Vermont Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Vermont has some of the best laws in the country when it comes to civil lawsuits for child sex abuse. Victims of childhood sexual abuse in Vermont can file a civil lawsuit no matter how many decades have passed since the abuse occurred. This page discusses how sex abuse victims can file civil lawsuits in Vermont and looks at the potential settlement value of these cases.

If you were abused at a school, church, residential program, or juvenile facility, our lawyers can help you understand whether the institution can be held responsible. You do not need to have reported the abuse when it happened before asking about your options. Call 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online.

Settlement Value of Vermont Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Successful plaintiffs in a sexual abuse civil lawsuit are entitled to receive all the same types of damages as plaintiffs in normal tort cases. These include medical expenses, lost wages or earnings potential, and mental pain and suffering. Vermont also allows punitive damages to be awarded in sexual abuse cases when the required legal standard is met.

There is no reliable statewide average that tells you what your case is worth. The Vermont examples below show that these cases can produce substantial recoveries. But a verdict against an individual abuser, a settlement with a school, and an allocation from a church bankruptcy fund are very different measures of compensation.

The strength of the institutional liability claim matters enormously. Did someone complain before you were abused? Did the institution move the abuser rather than remove him? Do records show that supervisors knew children were at risk? The severity and duration of the abuse, its effect on your life, and the available insurance and assets also affect settlement value.

The Burlington Diocese dispute illustrates the problem with treating every published number as a valuation guide. A proposed fund divided by the number of survivors tells you about the offer on the table. It does not tell you what any one survivor’s injuries are worth. The dispute over parish property matters because the assets legally available to pay claims can affect the size of the settlement fund.

Example Sexual Abuse Settlement Amounts in Vermont

Below are examples of Vermont sexual abuse lawsuits that resulted in verdicts and settlements in favor of plaintiffs, followed by a related institutional abuse settlement. These are selected outcomes, not a representative sample or a calculation of the average Vermont settlement. Verdicts may be appealed, reduced, or resolved through later settlements.

• $35,000,000 Verdict (Vermont 2014): A 24-year-old female, A.I., reportedly suffered emotional distress that required psychiatric hospitalizations for treatment as a result of sexual assaults by defendant S.I., an adult male that allegedly occurred while A.I. was between the ages of three and nine. The plaintiff claimed the defendant’s conduct constituted lewd or lascivious conduct, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault and battery, and outrageous conduct done intentionally or with reckless disregard for the probability of causing emotional distress. The jury found that the plaintiff proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant committed one or more acts of sexual abuse against her. The award was against the individual abuser and included $20 million in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages.
• $3,592,500 Verdict (Vermont 2008): An 11-year-old male alleged that he suffered emotional distress when he was sexually molested by a nonparty reverend at the defendant church where the plaintiff was an altar boy. The plaintiff contended that the defendant failed to train and supervise its employees properly, negligently allowed sexual molestation to take place in the church, and that it should be held responsible for failing to protect him.
• $8,700,000 Verdict (Vermont 2008): A male alleged that he suffered sexual molestation inflicted by a nonparty priest affiliated with the defendant (Catholic Diocese) over several years while he was a young child. The plaintiff filed a priest sex abuse lawsuit, contending that the defendant failed to prevent its nonparty priest from forcing the minor plaintiff to engage in sexual activities. But the diocese let this lawsuit go to trial and paid the price.
• $170,000 Settlement (Vermont 2003): A male suffered emotional distress after he was sexually abused at the age of 13 by the male codefendant cleric, who was a member of the defendant diocese. The plaintiff contended that the defendant failed to provide reasonable supervision to ensure the safety of the minor children entrusted to its care, failed to prevent the sexual abuse of its minor parishioners, had prior knowledge of the cleric’s sexual contact with young male children, and failed to warn parents of the minors about the cleric’s past offenses.

The two 2008 clergy verdicts demonstrate why prior knowledge matters. The claim against an institution is stronger when records show that it knew about an abuser’s conduct and continued to give that person access to children. These verdicts do not establish what the survivors ultimately collected.

Related Institutional Abuse Settlement

• $4,500,000 Group Settlement (Vermont 2023): Seven former residents alleged abuse and neglect at the now-closed Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center in Essex and another facility in Middlesex. The state agreed to pay $4.5 million without admitting wrongdoing. The allegations involved institutional abuse and mistreatment, including the use of force, restraint, and isolation. The amount resolved multiple plaintiffs’ claims and was not an individual award. Our law firm has really drilled down on juvenile detention center cases recently. Our sex abuse lawyers did not fully understand the scope of the problem until we started just seeing case after case.

Vermont Sex Abuse Lawsuit Latest News

October 1, 2026: Burlington Diocese Seeks to Abandon Bankruptcy After $29.4 Million Settlement Offer Rejected

In an unusual development in Vermont’s Catholic Church sexual abuse litigation, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is asking a federal bankruptcy judge to dismiss the Chapter 11 case it filed two years ago. The diocese says settlement negotiations with abuse survivors have broken down and the bankruptcy process has become too expensive. The diocese announced its request on September 30.

The diocese reportedly offered approximately $29.4 million to resolve claims involving about 120 survivors, averaging roughly $245,000 per claimant. That is not a lot. The committee representing survivors rejected the proposal. Bishop John McDermott says the diocese has already spent more than $2 million in legal expenses without reaching a resolution.

But something else is going on here. Just days before the diocese moved to abandon bankruptcy, the bankruptcy judge allowed survivors to pursue litigation concerning hundreds of millions of dollars in assets held by Catholic parishes and related trusts. The survivors argue that those assets should be available to compensate victims, while the diocese maintains that the parish property is legally separate.

This is a lather, rinse, repeat cycle in these bankruptcy cases. Churches see bankruptcy as a way to resolve claims through a single compensation process instead of having to resolve these cases one by one. Our view is that the prospect of hundreds of millions of dollars in disputed parish property changes the calculation. The diocese wants the benefit of a global resolution while resisting survivors’ efforts to reach those assets.

July 22, 2026: Vermont Court Allows Discovery Against Michigan Diocese in Priest Abuse Lawsuit

A Vermont judge has allowed a childhood sexual abuse plaintiff to conduct discovery into whether a Michigan Catholic diocese and bishop can be sued in Vermont over alleged abuse committed during a trip to the state.

In Fish v. Diocese of Gaylord, a plaintiff alleges that Father John Tupper sexually abused him when he was twelve years old. The complaint alleges that the priest took the victim on a trip to Vermont in 1999 and that church officials approved and funded the trip despite previous concerns about Tupper’s conduct with children.

The defendants argued that Vermont courts lacked jurisdiction over the Michigan religious institutions. The judge dismissed the claims against one parish but allowed 180 days of jurisdictional discovery involving the diocese and bishop.

The court has not decided liability or whether jurisdiction ultimately exists. The plaintiff now has an opportunity to seek records concerning the authorization and funding of the trip. That evidence will be key.

See More Vermont Sex Abuse Updates

May 29, 2026: Vermont Court Examines Parish Liability in Decades-Old Priest Abuse Case

A Vermont Superior Court judge has issued a decision in a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit involving allegations that Father Edward Paquette repeatedly abused a boy in Montpelier during the 1970s.

In Ferland v. Christ the King, the plaintiff alleges that church officials at a Rutland parish knew Paquette had sexually abused boys before he was transferred to St. Augustine Parish in Montpelier. The complaint claims that the abuse continued after the transfer and that church officials failed to protect children.

The court dismissed the claims against the two named parish trusts, allowed claims against the parishes to survive the dismissal motion, and stayed the proceedings because of their connection to the Burlington Diocese bankruptcy. The decision also examined unresolved questions about parish organization and potential member liability.

Identifying which church entity was actually responsible for supervising an abusive priest can be particularly difficult when parishes and property trusts have changed over the decades.

November 11, 2024: New Sex Abuse Lawsuit

In a new civil child sex abuse lawsuit, a former Vermont high school student is suing her former school district and supervisory union, alleging that officials failed to protect her from a music teacher who groomed and ultimately sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager. Filed under the pseudonym “Survivor A,” the suit claims that the district was aware of the teacher’s troubling history with students but neglected to act.

The plaintiff, who attended the high school in the mid-1980s, states that the teacher repeatedly abused his position of authority. According to the lawsuit, the alleged abuse escalated when the teacher drove her home from a school-sponsored event in March 1985, during which he made several stops, ultimately leading to a sexual assault in a secluded location.

The complaint further notes that the former student reported the incident to her therapist and foster mother, leading to police involvement. Records indicate that the teacher later entered a no-contest plea to criminal charges related to his conduct with her, resulting in a suspended sentence and probation with restrictions on interacting with minors.

The lawsuit asserts that the district knew of similar misconduct by the teacher toward other female students and accuses it of failing to protect the plaintiff from harassment after the incident. The suit describes how, in the aftermath, she endured bullying and threats from other students, ultimately forcing her to change schools.

October 3, 2024: Burlington Diocese Bankruptcy

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vermont, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in response to numerous sexual abuse claims. This decision comes after Vermont’s removal of the statute of limitations on child sex-abuse claims, which has led to an increase in lawsuits against the diocese.

The diocese says it aims to use the bankruptcy process to equitably compensate all abuse survivors, citing its limited resources and the financial risks of potentially large settlements or judgments that could unfavorably impact other claimants and creditors. Bishop John McDermott highlighted that the diocese has previously settled 67 abuse cases for $34.5 million since 2006, but now faces 31 pending lawsuits with insufficient insurance coverage and depleted assets. This filing makes Burlington the 40th U.S. Catholic entity to seek bankruptcy due to abuse claims.

For victims, this is a mixed bag. On one hand, this approach allows for an organized distribution of compensation, aiming to treat all claimants equitably. This can prevent the depletion of available funds by a few large claims, with the goal of compensating eligible survivors. It is also a path to getting the insurance companies to put their money up now as opposed to what they usually do.

On the other hand, the bankruptcy process can dilute individual settlements significantly, often offering less than what might have been awarded through individual court judgments. Additionally, the bankruptcy proceedings sometimes extend over a long period, delaying the resolution.

Holding Third Parties Liable for Sexual Abuse in Vermont

Anyone who has been sexually abused or assaulted may have the right to file a civil lawsuit and seek compensation. Victims can file civil lawsuits for sexual abuse even if they did not press criminal charges and even if they never told anyone about the abuse.

So who can sex abuse victims sue in a civil lawsuit? Victims may have a claim against the individual who abused or assaulted them. The problem with doing that, however, is that even if you win the lawsuit, collecting compensation from the abuser can be difficult. In many cases, the abuser might already be dead or in jail.

The real goal of a sexual abuse civil lawsuit is to go after a third party who can be held liable for the abuse. Third parties can be held liable in a civil sex abuse lawsuit if you can show that they were negligent and that this negligence allowed the abuse to happen.

For example, if a teacher abused you at your school, the school could potentially be liable for negligently failing to stop the abuse or investigate prior complaints against the teacher. Common examples of third parties who can be liable in sexual abuse civil lawsuits include schools, churches, and organizations such as the Boy Scouts.

For revived institutional claims, the gross negligence requirement discussed below can raise that burden. Our lawyers must evaluate which standard applies to the particular claim.

What Evidence Helps Prove an Older Sexual Abuse Case?

You do not need to arrive with a complete file. In an older case, some of the most important evidence may be held by the institution rather than the survivor.

• Your account: Who abused you, where it happened, the approximate years, and the person’s role.
• Prior warnings: Complaints, personnel records, disciplinary decisions, transfers, and correspondence about the abuser.
• Other witnesses: People you told, former staff, classmates, family members, or other survivors.
• Records of the harm: Treatment records, counseling, school or employment disruption, and other evidence of the effects on your life.

A lack of records in your possession is not the same as a lack of evidence. Our lawyers investigate what still exists and whether it supports a claim against the abuser, the institution, or both.

To discuss a possible claim, call 800-553-8082 or request a free consultation online.

Vermont Statute of Limitations for Sex Abuse Lawsuits

A statute of limitations is a legal deadline that limits how long prospective plaintiffs can wait before filing a civil lawsuit. If a plaintiff does not file suit before the statute of limitations expires, their claims will be barred. The statute of limitations is often a major issue in sex abuse lawsuits because many victims do not feel comfortable bringing a lawsuit until years after the fact.

Current Law for Childhood Sexual Abuse

In 2019, Vermont eliminated its statute of limitations on civil lawsuits involving childhood sexual abuse by amending 12 V.S.A. § 522. Child sex abuse victims in Vermont can now file a civil lawsuit no matter how long ago that abuse occurred, subject to other applicable legal requirements.

Whenever a law is changed retroactively, legal challenges are brought to defeat it. In A.B. v. S.U., 2023 VT 32, the Vermont Supreme Court rejected a state constitutional challenge to reviving an otherwise expired childhood sexual abuse claim.

Gross Negligence in Revived Institutional Claims

In cases where childhood sexual abuse claims would have been barred by a statute of limitations in effect on June 30, 2019, compensation can be awarded against an organization that employed, supervised, or was responsible for the individual accused of the abuse only if the organization is found grossly negligent.

No one talks enough about this provision, which can be a challenge for trial lawyers. Evidence of ignored complaints, known misconduct, and continued access to children may become central to proving the institution’s responsibility. The seriousness of the abuse does not relieve us of proving the claim against the organization.

Deadlines for Adult Sexual Assault Claims

The law lifting the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse does not eliminate deadlines for abuse that occurred in adulthood. Under 12 V.S.A. § 512, assault, battery, and personal injury claims generally have a three-year limitations period. Accrual, tolling, the defendant, and the particular claim can affect the analysis. An adult survivor should have the deadline evaluated promptly.

History of Vermont’s Childhood Sexual Abuse Filing Deadline

There is no statute of limitations on sexual assault lawsuits in Vermont for children abused as minors. There used to be a deadline to file a sex abuse lawsuit. In 1990, the Vermont Legislature passed 12 V.S.A. § 522, establishing Vermont’s inaugural statute of limitations explicitly addressing claims for childhood sexual abuse.

This statute mandated that legal actions related to childhood sexual abuse must be initiated within six years of the act itself or within six years from when the victim recognized the injury caused by the abuse. Before this law, sexual abuse lawsuits were governed by the general three-year statute of limitations for personal injuries (12 V.S.A. § 512). This law included a provision for retroactivity, applying the six-year limitations period to all actions initiated after its enactment date, provided that the act of sexual abuse or the realization that the injury was caused by such abuse happened on or after July 1, 1984.

How Does Vermont Define Sex Abuse?

Vermont criminal law statutes define sexual abuse and sexual assault. Civil claims may involve assault, battery, or other causes of action against an abuser, along with negligence or gross negligence claims against a responsible institution.

For the childhood abuse filing law, the victim must have been under eighteen when the conduct occurred, and the conduct must fall within the offenses identified in § 522. That definition should not be confused with a blanket statement that every person under eighteen is legally incapable of consenting to every sexual act.

Vermont’s sexual assault statute generally prohibits sexual acts with children under sixteen, subject to specified exceptions, and provides additional protections for children under eighteen in certain family and legally entrusted care relationships. The conduct, ages, relationship, and law in effect at the time require careful review.

Priest Sex Abuse Lawsuits in Vermont

Vermont’s clergy abuse litigation has exposed serious questions about what church officials knew, how they supervised priests, and whether they protected children after receiving warnings.

The Burlington Diocese’s assets are also disputed. Survivors have challenged the treatment of parish property held in trusts, while the diocese maintains that the property is legally separate. It would be misleading to describe the disputed property as money already available for settlements. But it would be just as misleading to assume that the diocese’s unrestricted cash is the only asset question worth asking.

The practical investigation follows both tracks: who was responsible for the abuse, and what insurance or property can legally satisfy a recovery. Our Vermont clergy abuse lawsuit page discusses these claims in more detail.

Vermont School Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

If a teacher abused you at your school, the school could potentially be liable for negligently failing to stop the abuse or investigate prior complaints against the teacher.

For an older school case, the investigation should identify the district or organization responsible during the years of abuse. Changes in a school’s name or administration do not answer who employed the teacher, received complaints, or controlled the setting where the abuse occurred. Public and private schools may also raise different legal defenses.

Vermont Residential Treatment Facilities Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Residential treatment facilities are intended to provide essential care and support for vulnerable children and adolescents. When sexual abuse occurs, the investigation must identify the actual facility, its operator during the relevant years, and the staff or supervisors responsible for protecting the child.

The factors our lawyers investigate in residential treatment center sex abuse lawsuits include staff shortages, inadequate background checks, ignored complaints, and failures to supervise staff or residents. Those are issues to prove in a particular case, not reasons to assume that every Vermont program has been accused of abuse.

For a Vermont child placed outside the state, the location of the abuse and the roles of the sending agency and receiving facility also require review. A company’s involvement in litigation elsewhere does not establish responsibility for a Vermont placement.

Vermont Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits

The Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center in Essex, Vermont, was the state’s only youth correctional facility until its closure in 2020. Woodside was operated by the state.

Why did Woodside close? It closed because it was awful. The decision to close Woodside followed criticism and legal challenges regarding its treatment of children, including restraint and isolation practices. The $4.5 million settlement described above concerned broader abuse and mistreatment allegations and should not be treated as proof of a particular sexual abuse claim.

The Green Mountain Youth Center is a planned facility in South Burlington. Vermont’s September 2026 project update describes potential construction beginning in spring 2027 and an opening in summer 2028, if the project proceeds as expected.

For a survivor, the important questions are where you were held, when you were there, who employed the alleged abuser, and what officials knew. Closing a facility does not answer whether the people responsible failed to protect the children placed there.

Vermont Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a Vermont lawsuit for childhood sexual abuse that happened decades ago?

Yes and no. Vermont allows qualifying childhood sexual abuse claims regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.  So suing the perpetrator is rarely a problem. The challenge comes with suing institutions, which require proof of gross negligence to get around the statute of limitations.

Can I bring a civil case if I never reported the abuse to police?

A criminal report or conviction is not a prerequisite to evaluating a civil claim. Victims can file civil lawsuits for sexual abuse even if they did not press criminal charges… and even if they never told anyone about the abuse.

Do the published verdicts tell me what my settlement will be?

The answer is obviously no.  You can glean a lot of information by looking at settlements and verdicts and get a handle on the likely range a case like yours will probably fall into.  But these cases are all unique individual human tragedies and there are just so many variable that go into calculating sexual abuse settlements in Vermont.

Contact Us About Vermont Sex Abuse Lawsuits

If you were the victim of sexual abuse and want to file a sex abuse lawsuit in Vermont, contact us today at 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online.

You do not need to know which institution can be sued or have every date worked out before contacting us. Start with what you remember. Our lawyers can help you understand what evidence may be available and what the next step would involve.