Can You Sue KinderCare for Child Sexual Abuse in Pennsylvania?
If your child was sexually abused at a KinderCare center in Pennsylvania, a civil claim can hold the abuser responsible and the childcare company that was trusted to keep your child safe. A civil claim is completely separate from any criminal case. You do not need a conviction, a police report, or even an ongoing investigation to move forward, and you do not need to have reported it right away. You handed your child to people you were told to trust. If that trust was betrayed, none of this is your fault. A civil claim is often the only way a family learns the full truth of what happened, and the only way to push a center to change so that other children are protected.KinderCare Can Be Held Responsible Too, Not Just the Abuser
The abuser is responsible for what they did. But in many cases, the childcare company itself shares responsibility, and it is usually the company (and its insurance) that has the resources to provide meaningful compensation. A center can be held responsible when it was negligent in ways such as:- Negligent hiring: hiring a worker without proper Pennsylvania clearances, or despite a record or red flags.
- Negligent supervision: allowing one adult alone with a child, or failing to follow ratio and “line of sight” rules.
- Negligent retention: keeping a worker on after complaints or prior incidents.
- Failure to report: not reporting suspected abuse as Pennsylvania’s mandated-reporter law requires.
- Cover-up: concealing what happened to protect the center’s reputation.
How Long Do You Have to File in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania sets specific deadlines for filing a civil claim, and those deadlines have changed in recent years, so the safest step is to confirm your deadline directly rather than assuming it is already too late. How much time you have can depend on how old you were when the abuse happened, and other factors. That is why we do not publish a single number here. Getting it wrong could mean losing your right to be heard entirely. What matters is this: abuse at a KinderCare center from years ago may still be within the deadline, and waiting can quietly take the decision out of your hands. A free, confidential call with Ashley DiLiberto gives you a clear, accurate answer about your own deadline, at no cost and with no obligation.How to Get Started, Safely and Privately
You do not need every detail, a police report, or any paperwork to reach out. You do not need to have told anyone before now. A first conversation is just that, a conversation, on your terms, at your pace. When you are ready, here is what a confidential review with Ashley DiLiberto looks like:- You share only what you feel comfortable sharing. There is no pressure and no judgment.
- Ashley explains, in plain language, whether KinderCare and the people involved can be held accountable, and what your options are.
- If we move forward, the case will be handled on a contingency basis, with no cost unless we win.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
A civil claim can seek compensation for counseling and future therapy, medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and the lasting impact the abuse has had on your life. For many survivors, a case is about more than money. It is about accountability and about pushing KinderCare to change how it protects children so no one else goes through the same thing. Survivors of Abuse PA handles these cases on contingency. Past results never guarantee a future outcome; every case is judged on its own facts.Your Attorney: Ashley B. DiLiberto
Ashley B. DiLiberto is a Pennsylvania sexual abuse attorney and Partner at Messa & Associates, P.C. in Philadelphia, where she leads the firm’s national Mass Tort Litigation Team. She focuses on holding institutions accountable for the people they failed to protect. Ashley holds PA Attorney ID 323701, has been admitted since 2017 with a clean disciplinary record, and has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Rising Star” every year since 2019. She also represented survivors in the Boy Scouts of America cases connected to the $2.46 billion settlement. She offers free, confidential consultations 24/7. Past results do not guarantee a future outcome.Frequently asked questions
Can I sue KinderCare for abuse at one of its centers?
Often, yes. A civil claim can name the abuser and the company where negligent hiring, supervision, retention, or failure to report helped the abuse happen. A free, confidential review tells you whether your family has a claim.
Who do I call to report daycare abuse in Pennsylvania?
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. To report suspected child abuse, contact ChildLine, Pennsylvania's 24/7 hotline, at 1-800-932-0313. When you are ready, an attorney can explain your options privately and at no cost.
Do I need a criminal conviction to sue?
No. A civil case is separate from the criminal system. You can pursue it even if no one was charged or convicted, and even if the abuse was never reported at the time.
Who is liable — the worker or the company?
Often both. The abuser is responsible for their actions, but the company is frequently liable too, and it usually has the insurance and resources to make a recovery meaningful.
What are warning signs of abuse at daycare?
Common signs include a sudden fear of a person or of going to daycare, unexplained injuries, regression like bed-wetting, nightmares, age-inappropriate behavior, or withdrawal. These do not prove abuse but are reasons to ask questions and seek help.
What if I'm not certain abuse happened?
It costs nothing to ask. A confidential conversation can help you understand your options and next steps, with no pressure and no obligation.
How long do we have to file in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's deadlines depend on the child's age and when the abuse happened, and they have changed in recent years. Even older cases may still qualify. A free call confirms your exact deadline.
Will our family's case be kept private?
Your first conversation is confidential, and protecting a child's privacy is a priority. Many abuse settlements are confidential. You share only what you are comfortable with.
What does it cost to hire a lawyer?
Nothing up front. These cases are handled on contingency — no fee unless we win — and the consultation is free.
Serving sexual abuse survivors across Pennsylvania
Ashley DiLiberto represents survivors statewide. Explore help in your area:
