Every April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month asks us to do something uncomfortable: look at the scope of sexual violence in this country and refuse to look away.
The statistics are staggering. One in six women and one in 33 men in the United States have experienced sexual assault. Survivors often wait years — if they come forward at all — because they fear not being believed, don’t know their rights, or have been failed by the very systems that were supposed to protect them.
SAAM exists to change that. To educate. To empower survivors. To push institutions toward accountability.
At Disparti Law Group, we take that last part literally. This month — and every month — we are in court holding schools accountable for the abuse that happened on their watch. We’ve filed federal lawsuits against school districts in Illinois and Wisconsin. We’ve fought for children with disabilities who had no one else in their corner. We’ve taken on Chicago Public Schools, suburban districts, and a Wisconsin school district where abuse allegedly continued unchecked for nearly two decades.
Awareness matters. But so does action. Here’s what we’re doing about it.
Why Does School Sexual Abuse Keep Happening?
School sexual abuse is one of the most underreported crises facing American families. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that one in ten children experience some form of sexual misconduct by a school employee during their academic career. In Chicago alone, hundreds of cases are referred for investigation within the public school system every single year.
But here’s what those numbers don’t capture: the abuse that never gets reported. The child who doesn’t have the words. The parent who doesn’t know they have legal options. The survivor who was told nothing could be done.
What our cases have shown us is that abuse in schools rarely happens because of one bad actor alone. It happens because institutions look the other way. Because administrators prioritize their reputation. Because no one is held accountable — until someone files a lawsuit.
That someone is us.
Which Schools Has Disparti Law Taken to Court?
We don’t just talk about fighting for students. We do it. Here are the school sexual abuse cases Disparti Law Group has filed:
Sullivan High School / Chicago Public Schools
Disparti Law Group filed a lawsuit against Chicago Public Schools on behalf of a student with autism who was sexually assaulted in a school bathroom. This child had an Individualized Education Plan — a legally binding document — requiring adult supervision at all times. CPS failed to follow it. The assault was entirely preventable.
As Larry Disparti said: “This child endured a traumatic assault — an assault that was entirely preventable. The school failed to act — and it failed in its fundamental duty: to protect the children in its care.”
Taylorville School District — Federal Lawsuit
We filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a 10-year-old special needs student who was repeatedly sexually abused by another student during school bus rides in Taylorville, Illinois. It wasn’t a one-time failure. It was a pattern — and the district let it continue.
“We send our children to school expecting them to learn, grow, and feel safe,” Larry Disparti said. “But instead, too many are being subjected to environments where abuse is hidden, minimized, or ignored.”
Oswego School District #308 — Grooming and Sexual Misconduct
In February 2026, Disparti Law Group filed suit against Oswego School District #308 in Kendall County, Illinois, alleging a pattern of grooming and sexual misconduct. This case is a reminder that the problem isn’t limited to large urban systems. Suburban districts can — and do — fail students just as badly. And they answer to the same laws.
Oconto Falls School District — A Federal Case Still Unfolding
This is the case that has defined 2026 for our team — and it is still growing.
On March 11, 2026, Disparti Law Group filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin against the Oconto Falls School District, alleging a pattern of sexual abuse, grooming, and institutional failure spanning nearly two decades — from 2005 to 2025.
Three former students, now adults, brought this case forward. At least 14 known victims have come forward or are prepared to share their stories. Two named staff members have already faced criminal charges. And still, as one plaintiff stated publicly: “My personal abuser has not been held accountable. It’s been an ongoing cause of hurt and pain.”
Disparti attorney Cass Casper described what these survivors are trying to accomplish: “They want to stop a culture where abuse, grooming, and inappropriate conduct toward students is allowed to flourish.”
The case drew coverage from Wisconsin Public Radio, Spectrum News, and WBAY-TV ABC 2. On March 30, 2026, we filed a second amended complaint as additional victims and witnesses continued to come forward. This case is active. It is growing. And we are not done.
Can You Sue a School District for Sexual Abuse?
This is one of the most important things survivors need to hear — because too many assume the answer is no.
A criminal case is brought by the government. It requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt — an extremely high bar. If a prosecutor declines to press charges, or a case ends without a conviction, that does not mean the abuse didn’t happen. It does not mean there is no justice to be had.
A civil lawsuit is different. It is brought by the survivor. The burden of proof is lower. You do not need a criminal conviction — or even criminal charges — to pursue a civil case against a school. You can have a viable claim even if no police report was ever filed.
Schools count on families not knowing this. They count on the assumption that taking on a school district is too expensive, too complicated, and too exhausting. At Disparti Law Group, we have built our practice around proving that wrong.
When we file suit, we force an institution to answer for what it did and what it failed to do. Documents surface. Depositions happen. The truth becomes part of the public record. And that accountability doesn’t just serve one family — it puts pressure on every district watching to do better.
What Should You Do If Your Child Was Abused at School?
Call us before you do anything else. Evidence disappears. School records change. Witnesses move. Certain legal deadlines — especially in cases involving governmental entities — arrive faster than families expect.
Your initial consultation with Disparti Law Group is free, confidential, and no strings attached. We listen. We assess your options honestly. We tell you exactly what we see. And if we take your case, you pay nothing unless we win.
Schools can be held accountable. Disparti Law Group has already proven it — in state court, in federal court, and across multiple states. This April, if you’ve been carrying this alone, you don’t have to anymore. Learn more about how we fight school sexual abuse cases and what your family’s options may be.
Call Disparti Law Group at (312) 506-1235. Free consultation. Confidential. No fee unless we win.
Larry wins. And Larry fights for your kids.
Disparti Law Group is one of Illinois’ largest and most recognized personal injury and civil litigation firms, with over $2 billion recovered for clients and more than 3,000 five-star reviews. Our school sexual abuse legal team handles cases throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, and beyond — including cases against school districts, school transportation companies, and other institutional defendants.
