Abuse and Neglect of Children in Schools, Daycares and Programs
When a child is abused or neglected by a teacher, a coach, a daycare worker, a camp counselor, a church volunteer or a foster placement, the criminal case is only half of what the family is owed. The institution that hired, kept and failed to supervise that person has its own responsibility, and a civil case is the way to hold it to account. We have spent our careers in the courts that handle children’s cases, and we handle these claims with the privacy and care they require.
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The Civil Case Alongside the Criminal Case
The State prosecutes the abuser. The civil case is against the institution: the school district, the daycare, the youth organization, the church, the agency that placed the child. It asks a different question — not whether the abuser is guilty, but whether the institution knew or should have known and failed to act. A criminal conviction helps, but a civil case does not depend on one, and the standard of proof is lower.
How Institutions Become Liable
Negligent hiring — skipped or ignored background screening
Negligent supervision — one adult alone with children in violation of the organization’s own rules
Negligent retention — keeping staff after a complaint or warning sign
Failure to report — Florida Statute § 39.201 requires anyone who knows or suspects child abuse to report it to the DCF hotline; schools and daycares are mandatory reporters with no discretion
Ignored warnings from other parents, children or staff
Failure to follow the organization’s own safety policies
Deadlines Are Different for Abuse
Florida Statute § 95.11(8) gives abuse-based claims more time than ordinary injury claims: an action founded on abuse of a child may be brought within seven years after the child turns 18, within four years after the child leaves the abuser’s dependency, or within four years from the time the child discovers both the injury and its connection to the abuse, whichever is later. For sexual battery on a victim under 16, § 95.11(10) sets no time limit at all. Claims against a public school district still require written notice under § 768.28. These rules are complicated and the right answer depends on the facts; do not assume a case is too old without asking.
How We Handle These Cases
The child is identified by initials or a pseudonym in court filings wherever the rules allow
Sensitive records are filed under seal
Interviews are trauma-informed and coordinated with the child’s therapist and, where one exists, the criminal case
We coordinate with the Child Protection Team, the State Attorney and DCF rather than working against them
The settlement is structured to fund counseling and care for as long as the child needs it
Institutions We Bring Claims Against
Public school districts (with § 768.28 notice rules and caps)
Private and charter schools
Licensed and unlicensed daycares
Youth sports leagues, gyms and camps
Churches and faith-based programs
Foster care agencies and group homes
Residential treatment and juvenile facilities
Frequently Asked Questions
The abuser was arrested. Why would we also sue the school or program?
Because the abuser rarely has assets or insurance, and the institution that let it happen is the one with the ability to pay for the child’s treatment. The civil case also forces the changes that protect the next child.
The abuse happened years ago. Is it too late?
Often not. Florida gives abuse-based claims up to seven years after the child turns 18, and longer in some situations. Sexual battery on a child under 16 has no civil time limit. Ask before assuming.
Will my child have to testify?
Not necessarily. Many cases resolve on records, video and adult witnesses. When a child’s account is needed, it is taken with the same protections used in the criminal system.
Will my child’s name be public?
We ask the court to allow initials or a pseudonym and to seal sensitive records, and those requests are routinely granted in cases involving minors.
What does it cost to hire you?
Nothing up front. No attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation; costs and expenses may apply. The consultation is free and confidential.
📞 Call (904) 619-5244 · Text Us · Free Case Review
Free and confidential. No fee unless we recover compensation; costs and expenses may apply.
Related: School and daycare injuries · Children with special needs · Juvenile defense · Jacksonville child injury lawyer
Reviewed by Belkis Plata and Shannon Schott, attorneys Board Certified in Juvenile Law by The Florida Bar. Updated October 2026.