Lawsuit Information Center
If you were sexually abused in Michigan, whether it happened recently or decades ago, this page is your starting point. Civil lawsuits are often the only way survivors can hold not just abusers, but also the institutions that enabled them, accountable.
Right now, Michigan is on the edge of a major shift. A new legislative package could soon unlock the courthouse doors for thousands of people whose claims have been shut out for years by a broken statute of limitations. The law is moving. Survivors need to be ready.
This page explains how sex abuse survivors can bring civil lawsuits in Michigan and seek compensation. Our lawyers will discuss Michiganâs statute of limitations for civil sex abuse cases, the pending Justice for Survivors legislation, institutional liability, juvenile detention center abuse claims, residential treatment facility cases, and recent Michigan sex abuse settlements and verdicts.
If you have a claim, contact us today. You can get a free no-obligation consultation online or call us today at 800-553-8082.
Table of Contents
Michigan Sex Abuse Lawsuit Updates
Michigan Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations
Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse Cases
Michigan Sex Abuse Lawsuit Updates
May 26, 2026: Federal Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Abuse and Systemic Failures at Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center
A new federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed over alleged sexual abuse at the William Dickerson Juvenile Detention Center in Hamtramck. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a former juvenile detainee who alleges that a detention specialist groomed and sexually abused him while he was in custody in April 2024.
The allegations go beyond one employee. The lawsuit names Wayne County officials, detention leadership, and senior officials with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. It alleges the abuse occurred against a backdrop of systemic failures, including inadequate supervision, unsafe conditions, and years of warning signs at the facility.
This is the kind of case that can move a Michigan juvenile detention sex abuse lawsuit from an individual misconduct case into an institutional liability case. The claim is not only what the staff member did. The larger claim is whether county and state officials knew the facility was unsafe and failed to protect children in their custody.
May 22, 2026: Former Detroit-Area Doctor Pleads Guilty in Child Exploitation Case
A former Detroit-area doctor pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography after federal authorities found child sexual abuse material on his phone. Prosecutors also alleged disturbing communications involving plans and fantasies related to child sexual abuse. He was arrested in December 2025 while working as a resident at a Detroit-area hospital and is scheduled for sentencing in September 2026.
This is not a civil lawsuit update in the usual sense, but it is relevant to Michigan sex abuse litigation because it again shows the danger created when trusted professionals use institutional access and credibility to get close to vulnerable people. When the alleged abuser is a doctor, nurse, counselor, teacher, coach, or facility employee, the civil case often turns on institutional screening, supervision, reporting, and ignored warning signs.
The criminal case will not automatically create civil liability for a hospital or employer. But if discovery reveals institutional knowledge, ignored warnings, or failures in supervision, the civil claim changes quickly.
May 10, 2026: Justice for Survivors Bill Still Leaves Michigan Survivors Waiting
The Justice for Survivors package remains one of the most important Michigan sex abuse developments to watch. The Senate-passed version of the legislation would significantly expand the time survivors have to file civil lawsuits. Senate Bill 257 would allow civil claims within 10 years of the abuse, by age 42, or within seven years after discovering the injury and its connection to the abuse, whichever is later.
The legislation would also create a one-year revival window for claims that were previously time-barred, with a proposed $1.5 million damages cap per claimant against a single defendant for revived claims. Other bills in the package would address claims against the state and limit immunity defenses for certain educational institutions when criminal sexual conduct is connected to negligent hiring, supervision, training, or failure to report.
The problem is the same one survivors have been facing for months: the bill package still needs House action. Until that happens, Michigan remains behind many other states that have already opened broader paths for survivors. But the fact that the Senate has already passed the package keeps pressure on the House. Survivors and lawyers should continue preparing claims now so they are ready if the window opens.
May 1, 2026: Sinai-Grace Hospital Lawsuits Against Former Nurse Continue to Grow
Fourteen new plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit involving former nurse Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios. The lawsuit alleges the hospital knew more than it publicly admitted and that patient records documented concerns before many of the alleged assaults occurred.
The allegations are important for civil liability. If a hospital had documented patient concerns about a nurse and the nurse continued treating vulnerable patients afterward, that becomes the center of the case. The strongest claim is not just that a nurse sexually assaulted patients. It is that the hospital had warning signs and failed to intervene.
Former Sinai-Grace nurse Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios reportedly faced additional sexual assault charges in January 2026. The new charges involved allegations connected to Sinai-Grace Hospital and a Livonia psychiatric emergency facility. Multiple patients making similar allegations shifts the focus to how long the conduct continued, what complaints were made, who knew, and whether the institutions involved had systems in place to protect patients.
Older Michigan Sex Abuse Lawsuit Updates đ
January 21, 2026: Former Sinai-Grace Nurse Faces Additional Sexual Assault Charges
Former Sinai-Grace nurse Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios reportedly faced five additional sexual assault charges in January, bringing the total number of alleged incidents to eight. The new charges involved allegations connected to Sinai-Grace Hospital and a Livonia psychiatric emergency facility.
This is a major development for potential civil cases because a growing number of alleged victims makes it harder to frame the conduct as a single isolated event. When multiple patients come forward with similar allegations, the focus shifts to how long the conduct went on, what complaints were made, who knew, and whether the institutions involved had systems in place to protect patients.
The Livonia connection is also worth watching. Allegations involving a psychiatric emergency facility raise the same concerns that appear in hospital abuse cases: vulnerable patients, staff control, medical authority, and the risk that abuse can be hidden behind the appearance of treatment.
January 16, 2026: Fourteen New Plaintiffs Sue Sinai-Grace Hospital Over Former Nurse Sexual Abuse Allegations
Fourteen new plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit involving former nurse Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios. The lawsuit alleges the hospital knew more than it publicly admitted and that patient records documented concerns before many of the alleged assaults occurred.
The allegations are extremely important for civil liability. If a hospital had documented patient concerns about a nurse and the nurse continued treating vulnerable patients afterward, that becomes the core of the case. The strongest claim is not just that a nurse sexually assaulted patients. It is that the hospital had warning signs and failed to intervene.
The newly alleged incidents reportedly include claims that sexual assault was disguised as medical care, including groping, harassment, and coerced or unnecessary undressing. Patients are uniquely vulnerable in medical settings because they are taught to trust staff, comply with instructions, and assume intimate contact is medically necessary.
January 2026: Sinai-Grace Cases Continue to Look Like Institutional Failure Claims
The Sinai-Grace nurse litigation is increasingly looking like an institutional failure case, not just a case against one former employee. Plaintiffs are alleging that patient concerns existed before later assaults and that the hospital failed to act quickly enough to protect patients.
That distinction is critical. In civil sex abuse lawsuits, the defendant with the ability to pay meaningful compensation is often the institution, not the individual abuser. The case against the institution usually depends on notice and prevention. Did the hospital know or should it have known? Were complaints documented? Were supervisors told? Were patients interviewed? Was the nurse removed from patient care quickly enough?
If the allegations are proven, this will be a powerful example of why hospitals cannot treat patient complaints about sexual misconduct as ordinary workplace issues. A patient safety complaint involving intimate contact by medical staff should trigger immediate protective action.
September 18, 2025: Where Are We on the Michigan Statute of Limitations for Sex Abuse Lawsuits?
Michiganâs Justice for Survivors legislation remains stalled in the House. The Senate passed the five-bill package in May with broad bipartisan support, signaling that lawmakers understand the need to expand and modernize the stateâs statute of limitations for sex abuse cases.
But since that vote, the legislation has gone nowhere. It sits in the House Government Operations Committee, with no scheduled hearings, no votes, and little sign of momentum. Despite strong public support and continued pressure from survivors and advocates, House leadership has so far refused to act.
Even so, we are moving forward. Our legal team continues to collect and evaluate new Michigan sex abuse cases, fully expecting that this legislation, or something like it, will eventually become law. The political winds are shifting. Lawmakers can delay, but they cannot ignore the growing number of survivors demanding a path to justice. When that legal window opens, even if briefly, our lawyers will be ready. Survivors who have waited in silence for decades deserve their chance to be heard in court. We are preparing now so they are not left behind.
September 16, 2025: Nurse Figueroa-Berrios Sexual Abuse Lawsuits at Sinai-Grace
Patients, coworkers, and staff at Detroitâs DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital who interacted with nurse Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios and believe they experienced inappropriate touching or sexual abuse should submit a confidential report.
Our sex abuse lawyers are actively investigating the Sinai-Grace Hospital sexual abuse allegations involving Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios, and we are taking these cases. If you or someone you know has information about this Detroit nurse sexual assault matter, we can help secure medical records, preserve messages and access logs, and explain your options for a Sinai-Grace Hospital lawsuit under Michigan law. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.
September 2, 2025: Livonia Abuse Lawsuits
Renewed attention is on Livonia COPE, a Community Outreach for Psychiatric Emergencies facility in Livonia, operated by Hegira Programs.
Prosecutors previously charged multiple employees with abusing vulnerable adult mental health patients, including third-degree vulnerable adult abuse, assault with intent to do great bodily harm by strangulation, and failure to report suspected abuse. The allegations center on physical assaults in March 2018 against three male patients from Redford, Romulus, and Dearborn Heights.
To be clear, there are no sexual abuse allegations so far. So why include it here? Because allegations of physical abuse and reporting failures inside a psychiatric emergency facility can point toward broader safety problems. Vulnerable patients in locked or controlled treatment settings need protection from every form of staff abuse.
August 13, 2025: Pushing the Justice for Survivors Bill
The Detroit News published a sharply framed editorial by Kaitlyn Buss calling out Michiganâs failure to act on overdue sexual abuse reforms and directly challenging House Speaker Matt Hall to bring the Justice for Survivors legislative package to a vote.
Buss argues that Michiganâs current statute of limitations is among the most restrictive in the nation and echoes the lessons of the Epstein scandal: when abuse intersects with institutional power, silence and delay only serve predators. The editorial highlights the bipartisan nature of the bill, which passed the Senate easily in May with support from both parties, and urges the House to follow through before another opportunity to deliver justice is lost in political infighting.
This legislation needs to pass, and every day it stalls is another day that survivors are denied a fair shot at justice. That is why we continue to collect and evaluate new Michigan sex abuse cases right now. Whether the House acts next month or next year, this law, or a version of it, is coming. Survivors need to be ready the moment the legal window opens, and our lawyers are preparing cases accordingly.
July 25, 2025: Bedford School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
A family has sued Bedford Public Schools in Monroe County, alleging that the district failed to protect their daughter from sexual abuse by a former teacher and football coach at Bedford High School. The complaint asserts that the abuse occurred between May and December 2022, when the student was 17 years old.
The former teacher is accused of grooming the student through inappropriate messages on platforms like Snapchat and Instagram and engaging in sexual acts with her.
The key civil claim is institutional responsibility. If a school knew or should have known that a teacher was crossing boundaries with a student and failed to intervene, the case becomes much larger than the misconduct of one employee.
July 22, 2025: $5 Million Au Pair Sexual Assault Lawsuit
A federal jury in Michigan awarded $5 million in damages to a woman who was lured from out of state under the false promise of an au pair job, then sexually assaulted and trafficked.
The plaintiff alleged that the defendant orchestrated the scheme in 2022, assaulting her in his home while filming and coercing her to repeat statements of consent. She escaped later that night, and the defendant was later convicted in federal court and sentenced to life in prison for sex crimes involving her and other victims, including minors.
The civil case also named a second Michigan man who allegedly conspired with the defendant and helped facilitate the trafficking operation. He is currently serving time for an unrelated child pornography charge and faces a separate civil trial. The plaintiffâs claims included assault and battery, false imprisonment, sex trafficking, and pain and suffering. The $5 million judgment reflects the juryâs assessment of the lasting harm caused by the defendantâs actions and the broader exploitation scheme.
Despite the $5 million verdict, the plaintiff faces a familiar and frustrating reality: there is likely no meaningful path to recovery. The lead defendant is serving a life sentence in federal prison, is effectively judgment-proof, and the second man named in the civil suit is incarcerated and similarly unlikely to possess assets sufficient to satisfy a civil judgment. No institution, company, or organization has been named in the suit, which means there is no corporate defendant with insurance or deep pockets to fund a payout. As a result, the verdict may stand more as a moral victory than a financial one, highlighting the gap between legal accountability and actual compensation in sex trafficking and abuse cases without institutional defendants.
July 16, 2025: New Wayne County Detention Center Lawsuit
In a new lawsuit filed in July 2025, a Michigan family sued the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility, along with the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency and its Board of Education, alleging that their son was subjected to sexual and physical abuse while a resident at the facility in Detroit in 1998.
The complaint, brought in the Eastern District of Michigan, asserts that when the child was approximately 14 years old and court-ordered to reside at the detention center, a staff member sexually assaulted him during a strip search and later attempted further sexual misconduct, including coercion and physical violence.
The family alleges the facility and its staff failed to protect vulnerable youth, fostering a culture of abuse and institutional betrayal. The lawsuit cites Title IX violations, constitutional claims under Section 1983, and multiple state law claims including negligence and emotional distress. The teacher is now in jail.
July 14, 2025: Michigan Supreme Court Makes an Unfortunate Decision
In a new appellate opinion, the Michigan Supreme Court weakened protections for sexual abuse victims by making it easier for defendants to introduce evidence of a victimâs past abuse even when no conviction exists. The court overturned existing Michigan law, removing the requirement that prior abuse must have resulted in a conviction to be admissible.
These are tough issues with a lot of balancing interests. But while the justices claimed the new test âbalancesâ the rights of defendants and minors, the decision shifts the burden onto victims to repeatedly defend their trauma in court. Expanding what qualifies as âsexual conductâ under the rape shield statute, including involuntary acts like forced pornography exposure, risks retraumatizing victims and undermining the purpose of rape shield protections.
June 1, 2025: Michigan Senate Passes New Legislation
The Michigan Senate passed a five-bill package, S.B. 257 to 261, aimed at expanding justice for sexual abuse survivors.
The legislation creates a one-year revival window allowing victims to file lawsuits even if the statute of limitations has expired, and extends the time for filing civil claims to age 42, or up to 10 years after the abuse, or seven years after its discovery, whichever is later. It also removes legal immunity for schools and public universities in cases where they negligently failed to prevent or report abuse by employees. The bills cap revival-window damages at $1.5 million per defendant and eliminate procedural barriers such as one-year notice requirements for claims against the state. Passed with bipartisan support, the legislation then headed to the Michigan House of Representatives.
For sex abuse victims, this is a big deal. This legislation is a long-overdue breakthrough that finally prioritizes survivorsâ rights over institutional protection. It means survivors of sexual abuse in Michigan, including those who were silenced, ignored, or discouraged from coming forward, could have a powerful legal path to seek justice even if the abuse occurred decades ago.
The one-year revival window would enable survivors to file lawsuits that were previously barred by arbitrary deadlines, and the expanded statute of limitations would provide future victims with more time to process their trauma before pursuing legal action. Just as importantly, the removal of legal immunity for schools and universities sends a clear message: institutions that enable abuse through negligence or silence can be held accountable.
May 16, 2025: Wolverine Secure Treatment Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit
In a sweeping federal complaint, a man accuses Wolverine Human Services, the Saginaw Intermediate School District, and other affiliated entities of operating what he describes as a dangerous, abusive residential program in Michigan. Wolverine Human Services is not just a youth group home. It is a private juvenile detention and treatment facility under contract with the state.
His lawsuit alleges that between approximately 2015 and 2019, while he was a juvenile resident, he was subjected to physical and sexual abuse by multiple staff members at Wolverineâs Saginaw facility. He names the staff members whom he says abused him.
The allegations are horrendous, and it is hardly the first lawsuit against this now-closed facility. The plaintiff says he was gang-raped at the Wolverine Residential Treatment Center more than 15 times, forced to eat feces, physically restrained, and threatened into silence by Wolverine employees. These assaults were allegedly perpetrated by staff members and allowed to continue because of a culture of indifference, inadequate supervision, and failure to report abuse. The complaint states that he was between the ages of 10 and 13 and was court-ordered to reside at the facility. The complaint accuses Wolverine of fostering a culture of cover-up, failing to report abuse, and retaliating against victims or whistleblowers.
May 6, 2025: Michigan Family Sues Muskegon River Youth Home Over Systemic Child Abuse
In a new lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, a Michigan family initiated legal action against Muskegon River Youth Home, Inc. and related entities, alleging that their child suffered repeated sexual, physical, and emotional abuse while in the defendantsâ care. The complaint accuses the facility of fostering a culture of abuse and failing to enforce basic safety measures to protect vulnerable residents.
The plaintiffs claim the abuse occurred at the hands of staff members acting within the scope of their employment, making the organization vicariously liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior. Legal counts include negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of fiduciary duty, and a violation of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.
The complaint alleges that the facility failed to investigate abuse claims, failed to protect the plaintiff with interim safety measures, and did not appropriately train or supervise staff. The plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, injunctive relief, and court oversight of institutional record disclosures.
April 8, 2025: Michigan Woman Files Workplace Harassment Lawsuit Against Livonia Printing Plant
In a new lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, a woman from Wayne County, Michigan, brought claims against Valassis Manufacturing Company, LLC and Vericast Corp. for pervasive workplace sexual harassment, disability discrimination, and retaliation. The case outlines allegations involving the plaintiffâs employment at a Livonia printing plant between March and December 2023.
The plaintiff, who began as a Press Assistant Operator, claims that shortly after starting her position, she became the target of persistent sexual harassment by her team supervisor, including stalking behavior, lewd comments, unwanted gifts, and an alleged sexual assault. She reported this conduct to her interim supervisor, who allegedly dismissed her concerns and failed to take corrective action.
April 1, 2025: Disgraced Youth Hockey Doctor Pleads No Contest to 28 Counts of Sexual Abuse
Dr. Zvi Levran, a former Farmington Hills physician who worked with youth hockey programs in Michigan and Minnesota, pleaded no contest to numerous charges of sexual misconduct involving teenage boys. Authorities say Levran abused his position of trust while providing medical care to young athletes.
He entered a no contest plea to a total of 28 charges, including multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct and child sexually abusive activity. Levran was arrested in 2022, and prosecutors intended to pursue the maximum sentence allowed under the law.
March 22, 2025: Detroit Woman Joins Growing Uber Sexual Assault MDL With New Lawsuit
In an Uber sexual assault lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, a Michigan resident sued Uber Technologies, Inc., alleging that an Uber driver sexually assaulted her.
The plaintiff, a Detroit woman, claims that Uber and its subsidiaries, Rasier, LLC, and Rasier-CA, LLC, failed to implement adequate safety measures to protect passengers from sexual assault by drivers using the platform.
The lawsuit is part of the ongoing Uber Passenger Sexual Assault MDL and asserts claims of negligence, product liability, and failure to warn. Although the plaintiff is from Michigan, the case is filed in California because all federal lawsuits involving Uber passenger sexual assaults have been consolidated there for pretrial proceedings. If there is no global settlement, Michigan cases like this would be remanded to federal court in Michigan for trial.
January 25, 2025: Critical Deadline Alert for Michigan Childhood Sex Abuse Survivors
Our lawyers are taking Michigan juvenile detention center sex abuse lawsuits with the expectation of a new law, especially given how close we got in the last session. But which lawsuits are viable even without a new law?
The Nassar amendments were enacted in June 2018 in Michigan to expand the rights of sexual abuse survivors. These changes significantly altered the statute of limitations for filing civil claims related to childhood sexual abuse, providing more time for survivors to seek justice. Under the amendments, survivors abused as minors now have until their 28th birthday to bring a claim, a substantial increase from previous deadlines. But until the law is changed, the amendments are not retroactive. This means they do not revive claims whose statutes of limitations had already expired before the law took effect.
Under the current framework, if a minor was abused after June 2018, they have until their 28th birthday to file a claim. If the abuse occurred before June 2018 and the statute of limitations had not expired by that time, the survivor also has until the 28th birthday to bring a claim. For abuse that occurred before June 2018, where the statute of limitations had already expired, survivors had only three years after their 18th birthday to file, and the Nassar amendments do not retroactively change the deadline for those expired claims.
January 2, 2025: AG Report Exposes Decades of Abuse in Lansing Catholic Diocese
The Michigan Attorney Generalâs office released a public report providing details of its investigation into alleged sexual abuse of children within the Lansing Catholic Diocese dating back to the 1950s. The report is more than 300 pages and names 56 individuals within the Diocese, including 48 priests, who were credibly accused of child sexual abuse.
December 23, 2024: Survivors Make Emotional Plea as Justice for Survivors Bill Faces Fourth Potential Death
Survivors of sexual assault and their advocates delivered an emotional plea at the Michigan State Capitol, urging lawmakers to act on the Justice for Survivors bill package before the legislative session ended, fearing it may die for the fourth time.
The package, as discussed in the December 13 update below, sought to extend the statute of limitations for survivors to sue their abusers and eliminate governmental immunity for institutions that enabled abuse through negligence.
The Senate had already passed the bills with bipartisan support, but political gamesmanship in the House threatened to stall progress. The impact of sexual abuse does not vanish with time. This legislation represented a chance to give survivors a long-overdue opportunity to seek justice.
December 18, 2024: Law Firm Investigating Sex Abuse Claims Against Dr. Oumair Aejaz
Our law firm is actively investigating sexual abuse lawsuits against Dr. Oumair Aejaz, an internal medicine physician formerly employed at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital and Ascension Genesys Hospital in Michigan.
December 13, 2024: Michigan Senate Advances Landmark Justice for Survivors Legislation Package
The Michigan Senate advanced the Justice for Survivors legislative package, S.B. 1187 to 1192, aiming to reform the statute of limitations for sexual assault claims and enhance survivorsâ access to justice. This bill would upend the restrictive rules for filing sex abuse lawsuits in Michigan.
The package would give victims of criminal sexual conduct up to 10 years after the incident, seven years after recognizing the assault, or until age 42 to file a civil lawsuit, whichever is later. It would create a one-year revival window allowing survivors to bring claims regardless of when the assault occurred, enabling those previously time-barred to seek justice.
The most concerning aspect of the bill was the damages cap. The legislation capped damages for sexual abuse lawsuits at $1.5 million. It also would eliminate time limits on filing a civil sexual assault claim if the perpetrator had been convicted of the offense and would remove governmental immunity for educational institutions in sexual assault cases if the institution knew an employee or agent had a history of sexual misconduct and failed to prevent the assault.
It was not a perfect bill. But if it had passed the House, it would have been a huge step forward for victims.
November 21, 2024: Court Upholds Dismissal of Historic Abuse Case, Highlighting Need for Law Reform
The Michigan Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of a sexual abuse lawsuit against multiple defendants, ruling that the claims were barred by statutes of limitation. The plaintiff alleged abuse from 1979 to 1993 and filed his complaint in 2023, asserting that repressed memories of the abuse surfaced during therapy in 2022.
The court rejected his arguments for tolling under Michiganâs insanity provision, the criminal sexual conduct tolling statute, and fraudulent concealment. It found no evidence the plaintiff was legally insane when the claims accrued, and the criminal sexual conduct tolling statute did not apply retroactively to revive already-expired claims. The plaintiff also failed to prove that the defendants fraudulently concealed his claims, as he had reported the abuse to authorities decades earlier.
The court affirmed that the applicable limitation periods had expired long before the plaintiffâs filing. The judges applied the law correctly. The law is the problem and needs to be changed.
November 2, 2024: AG Closes Nassar Investigation and Criticizes MSU for Document Delays
The Michigan Attorney General officially closed its investigation into what knowledge Michigan State University may have had about Larry Nassar, the former sports doctor for MSU and USA Gymnastics who has been convicted for decades of sexual abuse. The AGâs office said that its review of more than 6,000 documents yielded no new information, but it publicly criticized MSU for withholding the documents for such a long time.
October 7, 2024: Michigan Church Leader Charged With Child Sexual Abuse Crimes
A church leader from Oakwood Church in Augusta Township, Michigan, was charged with numerous sexual crimes, including sexual abuse of children. Zachary Radcliff, 29 years old, was the worship director at the church. The criminal charges came after a police investigation uncovered incriminating materials on his home computer.
September 20, 2024: Attorney Files Harassment Lawsuit Against Colleague Who Mediated Anderson Settlement
A former attorney filed a federal lawsuit accusing a fellow lawyer of sexual harassment during and after her employment at his firm.
The human interest part of the story is that the accused lawyer had also served as the mediator in the high-profile settlement involving the late University of Michigan physician Robert Anderson, who was accused of sexually assaulting more than 1,000 victims. The plaintiff claims that after she confronted him about the harassment, her new employer terminated her and disparaged her reputation, making it difficult for her to continue working in Michigan.
The lawsuit details the attorneyâs discovery of hundreds of unauthorized photos of herself on the accused lawyerâs device, taken while she worked at his firm. She also alleges that the lawyer continued to stalk her after she left the firm and that her subsequent employer became hostile after she raised concerns about his ongoing harassment.
August 6, 2024: Michigan Supreme Court Deals Blow to Abuse Survivors in Retroactivity Ruling
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that a 2018 law extending civil suit deadlines for sexual assault victims does not apply retroactively beyond the specific retroactive provision created for Nassar victims.
The law, enacted after the Larry Nassar scandal, included a specific retroactive provision only for Nassarâs victims. A plaintiff who alleged clergy abuse argued his case became actionable in 2020 upon recognizing the abuseâs impact on his mental health, citing the lawâs provision allowing filing within three years of discovery.
But the courtâs majority held that the statute did not apply retroactively beyond Nassarâs victims. Three justices dissented. The result continues to block many older claims unless the Legislature creates a broader revival window.
It is up to the Michigan Legislature to fix this.
May 15, 2024: Lawsuit Alleges Widespread Abuse at Now-Closed Wolverine Treatment Center
More than a dozen teenagers were sexually abused by staff at the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center in Michigan, according to a lawsuit filed in Saginaw County. The center, which closed in 2021, housed teenagers placed by courts, the state child welfare system, and families. The detention center sex abuse lawsuit accuses Wolverine Human Services, the centerâs operator, of gross negligence, detailing abuse of 13 boys and one girl in their rooms, showers, and other locations.
May 3, 2024: Italian Woman Allowed to Pursue Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Au Pair Service
A Michigan federal court ruled that an Italian woman could continue a sex abuse lawsuit alleging she was raped by a man she met through an online au pair service. She claimed the service failed to adequately screen and monitor its users.
The lawsuit alleges that this failure allowed the man to pose as a host family from East Lansing, Michigan, and lure her to the United States by claiming he needed a nanny for his niece. When she arrived in Michigan, there was no child at the home, and she was brutally sexually assaulted. She immediately returned to Italy and went directly to a hospital, where a rape kit was administered.
The judge refused to dismiss the lawsuit and allowed the woman to amend her complaint to include claims under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act to establish federal jurisdiction.
April 12, 2024: Court Decision Highlights Harsh Reality of Michiganâs Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations
In Michigan, the statute of limitations for sex abuse lawsuits is a real barrier to justice, as underscored by a recent court decision. In that case, an individual plaintiff filed claims against multiple hotel operators, including Motel 6, Marriott International, and others, alleging they facilitated her sex trafficking from 2003 to 2014.
The plaintiffâs sex abuse lawyers alleged numerous warning signs of trafficking at the hotels, including cash payments for rooms, frequent foot traffic, signs of sex trafficking in rooms, women arriving with traffickers with few personal possessions, visible signs of physical abuse, fearful or anxious behavior, and repeated refusal of cleaning services.
Despite the grave nature of the allegations, the courtâs application of the ten-year statute of limitations meant many of the plaintiffâs claims were dismissed because they did not fall within the ten years before the lawsuit was filed. This illustrates the harsh impact of statutory time limits, particularly in sex trafficking cases, where victims may need time to escape, recover, and understand what happened to them.
The court did allow claims against Farmington Hospitality, which operated a Fairfield Inn & Suites, to proceed because specific allegations suggested that employees at that location had direct knowledge of and disregarded clear signs of trafficking.
Filing Civil Lawsuits for Sexual Abuse in Michigan
Michigan law permits survivors of sex abuse to bring civil lawsuits and seek monetary compensation. The right to bring a civil lawsuit is not dependent on whether the survivor pressed criminal charges. Abuse survivors can file a civil suit even if they never reported the abuse to police when it happened. It also does not require a criminal conviction.
A civil lawsuit is different from a criminal prosecution. The criminal case is brought by the state to punish the abuser. A civil lawsuit is brought by the survivor to recover money damages and hold responsible institutions accountable.
If you file a sexual abuse lawsuit in Michigan, the case will generally become part of the public court record. But survivors may be able to seek permission to proceed under a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe, especially when the case involves childhood sexual abuse, institutional abuse, or highly sensitive trauma.
Definition of Sexual Abuse in Michigan
In Michigan, sexual abuse cases are often connected to criminal sexual conduct statutes. Sexual assault or battery generally involves intentional sexual touching, coercion, penetration, exploitation, or other sexual conduct without consent.
If the person being abused is under 18, claimed consent usually does not protect the adult abuser. Children cannot legally consent to sexual abuse by adults. This is especially important in school, church, foster care, juvenile detention, residential treatment, and medical setting cases where the abuser has authority, access, and trust.
Civil cases are not limited to the abuser. Michigan sex abuse lawsuits may also be brought against institutions that failed to protect victims, ignored warning signs, failed to report suspected abuse, or placed vulnerable children and adults in unsafe environments.
Michigan Statute of Limitations for Civil Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Michiganâs statute of limitations is one of the central issues in almost every older sex abuse case. The current law gives some survivors more time than ordinary injury victims, but the law remains restrictive. Many survivors still need legislative change to get into court.
| Rule | Current Michigan Law | What It Means for Survivors |
|---|---|---|
| Childhood Sexual Abuse Deadline | A survivor abused as a minor may file before the later of age 28 or three years after discovering both the injury and the connection between the injury and the criminal sexual conduct. See MCL 600.5851b. | This is the main civil deadline for Michigan childhood sexual abuse lawsuits under current law. |
| No Criminal Case Required | The statute allows a civil claim even if no criminal prosecution was filed and even if a criminal case did not result in a conviction or adjudication. | You do not need a criminal conviction to bring a civil claim under the ordinary childhood abuse deadline. |
| Narrow Conviction Exception | Michigan has a limited exception for certain older childhood abuse claims tied to a first-degree criminal sexual conduct conviction and specific statutory conditions. See MCL 600.5851b. | This is not a broad open window for every convicted abuser case. It is limited and fact-specific. |
| Disability Tolling | If the person entitled to sue is under 18 or legally insane when the claim accrues, Michigan law can give one year after the disability is removed to bring the action. See MCL 600.5851. | This rule can extend deadlines in some cases, but it does not save every late claim. |
| Fraudulent Concealment | If a liable person fraudulently conceals the claim or the identity of a liable party, the survivor may sue within two years after discovering, or when they should have discovered, the claim or responsible party. See MCL 600.5855. | This can help when abuse or institutional responsibility was hidden, but the survivor must prove concealment. |
| Claims Against the State | Claims against the State of Michigan can trigger separate notice requirements under MCL 600.6431. | Juvenile detention, state facility, and public institution cases need immediate deadline review. |
| Proposed Law Changes | The 2025 Justice for Survivors package, Senate Bills 257 to 261, passed the Michigan Senate and moved to the House. The package would extend civil deadlines, create a revival window for expired claims, remove some public institution immunity, and expand survivor rights if enacted. See SB 257. | We expect Michigan lawmakers to keep pushing changes to the sex abuse statute of limitations. Survivors with old claims should not assume the door is permanently closed. |
Third-Party Liability in Michigan Sex Abuse Lawsuits
In a civil lawsuit about sexual abuse, the main person you might sue is the one who did the abusing. But if that person cannot pay or is in jail, suing only the individual abuser may not help much.
The stronger claim is often against the organization that could have stopped the abuse but did not. These may include schools, churches, hospitals, detention centers, foster care agencies, residential treatment programs, youth organizations, universities, employers, or other institutions. These defendants are often the ones with insurance or assets to pay compensation if they are found responsible.
Here is an example of how this can work. Jane was sexually abused by her high school teacher, Jim. Although Jane did not disclose the abuse at the time, the school had received other reports and complaints about Jimâs inappropriate conduct with students, which it failed to investigate. In that case, Jane could bring a sexual abuse lawsuit against the school, alleging negligence in its failure to investigate Jim and protect Jane and other students from harm.
This is why notice evidence is so important in institutional abuse cases. Prior complaints, suspicious behavior, ignored reports, bad hiring, weak supervision, missing cameras, repeated staff misconduct, and failure to report suspected abuse can all turn an individual abuse case into an institutional liability case.
Dr. Anderson University of Michigan Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Dr. Robert Anderson worked for the University of Michigan from 1967 to 2003. During that time, he sexually abused thousands of students by subjecting them to inappropriate and invasive physical examinations. Many of these victims came forward and filed a lawsuit against the University. In 2022, the University of Michigan agreed to pay $490 million to settle these claims.
Learn more about Dr. Anderson University of Michigan sex abuse lawsuits.
Michigan Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Sexual abuse of minors in Michiganâs juvenile detention facilities has been a major problem for a long time. A growing number of victims who were sexually abused in Michigan juvenile correctional and treatment centers are now coming forward and filing detention center sex abuse lawsuits against the state, counties, private operators, schools, and facility administrators.
These are children in custody. They cannot leave. They cannot choose their room, their staff, their schedule, or their safety plan. When a facility takes custody of a child, it takes on the duty to protect that child from foreseeable abuse.
Our firm is currently seeking Michigan juvenile detention center sex abuse lawsuits from anyone who was abused at a juvenile facility in Michigan.
An employer like a detention center can be held vicariously liable for an employeeâs torts under Michigan law if the employeeâs actions fall within the scope of employment or if the actions fall outside the scope of employment but were foreseeable because the employer knew or should have known about the employeeâs propensities or criminal history.
Our law firm evaluates potential cases involving sexual abuse at Michigan juvenile detention centers based on specific eligibility criteria. To qualify, the individual must have been sexually abused while detained at a Michigan juvenile detention facility and must have been a minor at the time of the abuse. Cases involving abuse by staff members are usually the strongest claims for settlement. There can also be viable lawsuits involving youth-on-youth abuse if staff knew about the risk or failed to act on warnings.
Facilities that have faced allegations of abuse, neglect, unsafe conditions, or institutional failure include:
- Wolverine Secure Treatment Center in Buena Vista
- Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center in Mt. Clemens
- W.J. Maxey Training School in Whitmore Lake
- Kent County Juvenile Detention in Grand Rapids
- Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo
- Calhoun County Youth Center in Marshall
- Jackson County Youth Center in Jackson
- Shawono Center in Grayling
- Oakland County Childrenâs Village in Waterford Township
- Detroit Behavioral Institute in Detroit
- Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility in Detroit and Hamtramck area cases
- Washtenaw County Youth Center in Ann Arbor
- Starr Commonwealth in Albion
- Maurice Spear Campus in Adrian
- Muskegon County Juvenile Transition Center in Muskegon
Suing the State of Michigan in Juvenile Facility Cases
Claims against the State of Michigan are different from claims against a private defendant. Under MCL 600.6431, claimants may need to file a timely notice of intent to sue. Failure to meet this condition can result in dismissal.
The fraudulent concealment exception in MCL 600.5855 can provide limited relief when a defendantâs affirmative acts or misrepresentations intentionally prevent discovery of a claim. But silence or inaction alone may not qualify. Plaintiffs must be able to allege specific acts of concealment.
This is why older Michigan juvenile detention cases need careful legal review. Do not assume your claim is dead. Also do not assume it is safe to wait.
Michigan Residential Treatment Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Residential treatment facilities are designed to provide inpatient mental health services for individuals struggling with addiction, depression, eating disorders, trauma, behavioral disorders, and other challenges. In Michigan, these facilities also serve as placements for juveniles in need of intensive support, often funded by state programs.
The people placed in these facilities are vulnerable. Many are children. Many have trauma histories. Many are isolated from family and dependent on staff for food, medication, therapy, movement, discipline, and safety. That power imbalance is exactly why these facilities must have strict hiring, training, supervision, reporting, and abuse prevention systems.
Our sex abuse lawyers are seeing an increase in claims of sexual abuse within residential treatment centers. Staff members in these facilities sometimes exploit positions of trust and authority, preying on residents who may be too afraid, ashamed, or convinced that no one will believe them.
Residential treatment facility lawsuits focus on systemic failures in supervision, hiring practices, reporting, and abuse prevention protocols. These lawsuits hold facilities accountable for negligence and help expose the need for reform.
Major residential treatment facilities in Michigan include:
- StoneCrest Center in Detroit
- Sanford Behavioral Health in Marne
- Ascension Brighton Center for Recovery in Brighton
- Great Lakes Recovery Centers in Marquette
- Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids
- Hope Network Behavioral Health Services in Grand Rapids
- Rose Hill Center in Holly
- Turning Leaf Behavioral Health Services in Lansing
- Dawn Farm in Ypsilanti
- Harbor Hall Residential Treatment Center in Petoskey
Michigan Sex Abuse Settlements and Verdicts
Verdicts and settlements in sex abuse cases provide insight into compensation ranges, but they do not predict the outcome of an individual claim. The nature and duration of abuse, institutional liability, the survivorâs age, the strength of the evidence, available insurance, and the credibility of the parties all affect compensation.
The largest payouts usually involve institutional defendants. A judgment against an individual abuser can be morally important but financially empty if the abuser has no assets or insurance. A case against a school, university, hospital, church, foster care agency, residential treatment center, or government institution can produce meaningful compensation if the evidence shows ignored warnings or failure to protect.
$500,000,000 Michigan State University Settlement
Michigan State University settled with 332 survivors of sexual abuse by Larry Nassar. The settlement allocated $425 million to current survivors and $75 million for future claimants.
This is one of the major institutional sex abuse settlements in American history. It shows the enormous value of cases where an institution had repeated warning signs and failed to protect vulnerable victims.
$490,000,000 University of Michigan Dr. Anderson Settlement
More than 1,000 former student-athletes and patients sued the University of Michigan over alleged abuse by Dr. Robert Anderson. The University agreed to pay $490 million to resolve the claims, with money allocated to current and future claimants.
This settlement is a guidepost for Michigan institutional abuse cases involving trusted professionals, medical exams, and allegations that leadership failed to act despite years of warning signs.
$138,700,000 Federal Settlement in Larry Nassar Claims
More than 100 claimants received a federal settlement over the FBIâs failure to act on allegations against Larry Nassar, contributing to a broader series of payouts connected to the Nassar abuse scandal.
This settlement shows that abuse cases can extend beyond the immediate institution when another agency had a duty to respond to reports and failed to take action.
$100,000,000 Michigan Department of Corrections Settlement
Female inmates settled with the Michigan Department of Corrections over longstanding sexual abuse claims involving prison guards and staff.
Prison sexual abuse cases are powerful because custody creates total control. When the state controls a personâs housing, movement, safety, and reporting channels, failure to protect can support significant liability.
$80,000,000 Settlement for Former Juvenile Offenders in Adult Prisons
Approximately 1,300 former juvenile offenders in adult prisons settled claims involving systemic sexual abuse and state inaction.
This result is a major reminder that juvenile custody cases can have high settlement value when the evidence shows the state placed children in dangerous settings and ignored systemic abuse risks.
$12,500,000 Verdict for Teenager Sexually Assaulted by EMS Driver
A teenager sexually assaulted by an EMS driver was awarded damages based on employer negligence in hiring and supervision.
This verdict illustrates the value of negligent hiring and supervision claims when an employer placed an unsafe employee in a position of access and trust.
$3,000,000 Settlement for Patient Sexually Assaulted by Physician
A patient sexually assaulted by a physician at a Michigan hospital received a multimillion-dollar settlement.
Medical abuse cases often have high value because patients are taught to trust doctors, follow instructions, and accept intimate contact when they believe it is medically necessary.
$925,000 Settlement in Psychological Treatment Abuse Case
A woman assaulted by staff during psychological treatment claimed institutional failure to supervise and protect patients.
Mental health and residential treatment settings create special vulnerability because patients may already be isolated, medicated, traumatized, or dependent on staff.
$779,863 Verdict Involving Psychiatrist and Patient
A psychiatrist engaged in sexual conduct with a patient who had a history of childhood sexual abuse. The plaintiff alleged gross professional misconduct.
Therapist and psychiatrist abuse cases often focus on transference, vulnerability, professional power, and the providerâs exploitation of the patientâs trust.
$575,000 Settlement in Chad Curtis School Abuse Claims
Victims of former MLB player Chad Curtis reached a settlement with Lakewood Public Schools over allegations of institutional failure to protect students.
School abuse cases often turn on grooming behavior, prior concerns, supervision failures, and whether administrators responded when warning signs appeared.
$300,000 Settlement in Psychotherapist Abuse Case
A 25-year-old woman alleged that her psychotherapist engaged in sexual contact under the pretense of therapeutic necessity, beginning when she was a minor.
This result shows that even smaller institutional or professional abuse cases can carry real settlement value when the abuse was tied to professional authority and patient vulnerability.
What Drives Settlement Value in Michigan Sex Abuse Lawsuits?
Michigan sex abuse lawsuit value depends on the harm to the survivor, the evidence, the defendantâs ability to pay, and whether an institution can be held responsible.
Cases involving long-term abuse, child victims, rape, repeated assaults, grooming, threats, retaliation, severe PTSD, therapy, substance use, self-harm, lost education, lost employment, or damaged relationships tend to have higher value.
Institutional responsibility can increase settlement value. If a school, church, hospital, youth facility, foster care agency, residential treatment center, or government entity ignored warning signs, failed to report abuse, or kept an unsafe employee around children or vulnerable adults, the case becomes larger than one abuser.
The strongest cases usually show a pattern. Prior complaints. Similar allegations. Ignored reports. Bad hiring. Weak supervision. Missing records. Retaliation. A survivorâs testimony can carry a case, but pattern evidence can force a defendant to take the case seriously.
| Factor | Why It Increases Value | Common Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Institutional Notice | The case becomes stronger when the defendant knew or should have known about the danger. | Prior complaints, internal emails, disciplinary records, reports from other victims, and warning signs. |
| Severity and Duration | Repeated abuse, rape, threats, and grooming usually produce greater harm. | Survivor testimony, therapy records, messages, witness statements, and criminal records. |
| Age and Vulnerability | Children, detainees, patients, foster children, and residents in treatment programs are easier to exploit. | Placement records, custody records, medical records, school records, and facility files. |
| Psychological Harm | PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use, and relationship damage can last for decades. | Therapy records, expert testimony, family testimony, work history, and medical records. |
| Cover-Up or Retaliation | Attempts to silence victims or protect abusers make the institutional claim more powerful. | Retaliation records, ignored complaints, staff discipline history, and testimony from other witnesses. |
| Collectability | A case against an institution usually has more recovery potential than a case against an individual abuser alone. | Insurance coverage, public entity liability, institutional assets, and indemnity agreements. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Hiring a Michigan Sex Abuse Lawyer
Our law firm handles sex abuse lawsuits in Michigan and across the nation. When you hire us, we work in pairs with experienced Michigan sex abuse lawyers and pay them out of our attorney fees if you win. This means you do not pay any additional contingency fees, and you get two law firms for the price of one.
A good Michigan sex abuse lawyer must understand statutes of limitations, public entity notice rules, institutional liability, trauma evidence, privacy protection, and how defendants try to use delay against survivors. These are not ordinary injury cases. They require patience, careful investigation, and a willingness to fight institutions that would rather keep the truth buried.
You can get a free no-obligation consultation online or call us today at 800-553-8082.