Church & School Abuse
Religious Boarding School Abuse Lawyers
No Time Limit for Justice (Under Federal Law 18 U.S.C. § 1595)
When Faith Is Used To Abuse …
Many young people were sent to so-called Christian or faith-based boarding schools with the promise of structure, safety, and spiritual growth. Instead, too many endured years of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse — often justified as “discipline” or “correction.”
At McGonagle Spencer Johnson, we represent survivors who were hurt in these environments. Our mission is to seek accountability, expose wrongdoing, and help survivors reclaim their lives with dignity and strength.
Compassion Rooted in Experience
Our partners know firsthand what it means to survive a traumatic childhood. That shared understanding fuels both our compassion and our determination to fight for our clients.
Life-Changing Results
We’ve obtained dozens of confidential settlements for men and women abused in religious or reform-style programs — helping survivors achieve closure, stability, and a fresh start.
Trauma-Informed, Survivor-Centered Representation
We understand how painful it can be to revisit the past. Our process is private, trauma-informed, and survivor-focused. We protect your confidentiality and emotional well-being while holding institutions and enablers accountable in court. We dig deep — uncovering how administrators, churches, and affiliated organizations failed to act, concealed abuse, or profited from the suffering of children entrusted to their care.
No Time Limit for Many Survivors
Recent changes to federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1595) have eliminated the statute of limitations for many survivors of child sexual abuse and trafficking. Under the Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act, if you were younger than 28 years old when the law took effect on September 16, 2022, there is no time limit to file a federal civil claim for damages under § 1595.
In other words, survivors who were under 28 on that date can pursue justice in federal court no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.
Why Survivors Choose Our Firm
Decades of courtroom experience and proven results.
Personal understanding of trauma and survival.
Confidential advocacy that centers your privacy.
Accountability for those who enabled or ignored abuse.
Our firm has deep experience applying these expanded rights to help survivors overcome old barriers and finally hold abusers — and the institutions that enabled them — accountable. You are not alone. Even if what happened was years or decades ago, the law may still protect you. Taking action can be a profound step toward recovery and peace.
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