Can You Sue a College or University for Sexual Abuse in Pennsylvania?
There are often two paths worth knowing about. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual assault and harassment, at schools that receive federal funding. It requires those schools to respond appropriately when they learn about abuse. Beyond that, you may also have a civil claim against the abuser and the institution under Pennsylvania law. A civil case stands on its own, separate from the campus disciplinary process and from any criminal case. You do not need a conviction or a school finding to move forward. College is supposed to be where a young adult grows and becomes independent, not where an institution looks the other way while someone is harmed. When a university learns that a student was assaulted by another student, a professor, a coach, or a staff member, and responds with delay, indifference, or retaliation, the law gives the survivor real leverage. Title IX and a civil claim can work together to hold the school accountable and help you recover.When Can the School Be Held Accountable For Sexual Abuse?
The person who committed the abuse bears responsibility for what they did. But a college or university can also be held accountable when its own response made things worse or left a student exposed. An institution can face liability when it was negligent or indifferent in ways including:- Deliberate indifference: knowing about an assault or harassment and failing to respond reasonably.
- Ignoring or mishandling reports: burying complaints, discouraging students from reporting, or botching the Title IX process.
- Retaliation: punishing, isolating, or pushing out a student who reported.
- Negligent hiring, supervision, and retention: employing or keeping a professor, coach, or staff member despite complaints or warning signs.
- Failure to protect: leaving a known risk in place, such as housing a survivor near their abuser or doing nothing about a repeat offender.
The Cases We Handle and Who We Help
Survivors of Abuse PA represents students in cases involving sexual assault, abuse, and harassment at colleges and universities across Pennsylvania, public and private. That includes cases involving other students, professors, coaches, advisors, and staff, as well as situations in fraternity and sorority settings, athletics, dorms, and study-abroad or off-campus programs. Many of these cases involve a school that mishandled a report, retaliated against a survivor, or failed to act on a known risk. (K-12 cases fall under school abuse.) If you are not sure whether what happened to you qualifies, it costs nothing to find out.Deadlines Matter. Don’t Assume It’s Too Late.
Title IX and civil claims each have their own deadlines, and Pennsylvania’s civil deadlines have changed in recent years, so the safest step is to confirm yours directly. How long you have depends on which path applies, your age, when the abuse happened, the school’s internal timelines, and other facts. Some Title IX and administrative steps can have short windows, while civil deadlines depend on facts that have been the subject of ongoing reform. Acting sooner protects your options, and even older abuse may still be within a deadline. A free, confidential call with Ashley DiLiberto will give you a clear answer about your specific situation, at no cost and no obligation.What You Can Do Right Now
Your safety comes first. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. You can also report to campus police, the school’s Title IX office, or local police, but how and when you report can affect your options, so it is worth speaking with an attorney before you do. For free, confidential support any time of day or night, the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 1-800-656-4673, and RAINN’s online chat is there as well. When you are ready, a civil attorney can walk you through your Title IX and legal options privately and at no cost. In the meantime, hold on to copies of any reports, emails, and messages you have.What You May Be Able to Recover
Depending on the path, relief can include changes the school is required to make. A civil claim can also seek compensation for real losses and harm, including therapy and counseling costs, lost tuition or educational opportunity, medical care, lost income, and pain and suffering. Many cases result in the institution being required to change how it handles reports and protects students. Survivors of Abuse PA handles civil claims on contingency: there is no cost unless we win. Past results do not guarantee any particular outcome, and every case is evaluated on its own facts.Frequently asked questions
Can you sue a college under Title IX in Pennsylvania?
Often, yes — and you may also have a separate civil claim. Title IX requires federally funded schools to respond appropriately to sexual assault and harassment; when a college is deliberately indifferent, mishandles a report, or retaliates, it can be held accountable. A civil claim against the abuser and institution can run alongside it.
What is the difference between Title IX and a civil lawsuit?
Title IX is a federal law about how a funded school must respond to sex-based harm, and it can lead to institutional accountability and remedies. A civil lawsuit is a separate claim for compensation against the abuser and, often, the institution. Many survivors pursue both; an attorney can tell you which path is strongest for your facts.
Do I have to use my school's Title IX process before getting a lawyer?
No, and it is often wise to talk to an attorney first. How and when you report to the Title IX office or campus police can affect your options. An attorney can help you navigate the school process while protecting your separate legal rights.
Can I bring a claim if the abuser was another student?
Yes. Title IX and civil claims can apply to student-on-student assault and harassment when the school knew or should have known and failed to respond reasonably — for example, by ignoring reports or leaving a known risk in place. The institution's response is central to these cases.
What if my college retaliated against me for reporting?
Retaliation against a student who reports sexual harm can itself be a violation and part of a claim. Punishing, isolating, or pushing out a survivor for coming forward is exactly the kind of institutional conduct Title IX is meant to prevent. Document what happened and speak with an attorney.
Does Title IX cover fraternities, athletics, and off-campus programs?
It can. Title IX can reach conduct connected to a school's programs and activities, which may include athletics, recognized Greek life, dorms, and certain off-campus or study-abroad programs. Whether a particular situation is covered depends on the facts, which an attorney can evaluate.
How long do I have to bring a Title IX or campus abuse claim?
Title IX and civil claims each have their own deadlines, and Pennsylvania's civil deadlines depend on your age, when the abuse happened, and other facts that have changed in recent years. Some steps have short windows. Because a missed deadline can end a valid claim, the safest step is a free, confidential call to confirm yours.
Can I stay anonymous or keep my case private?
Your first conversation is confidential, and protecting your privacy is a priority. Depending on the path, there can be ways to limit public exposure, and many civil settlements are confidential. You decide how much to share and when, with a trauma-informed attorney who will not rush you.
How much is a Title IX or college abuse case worth?
There is no set figure — value depends on what happened, the harm to you, the school's conduct, and which path applies. Civil claims can seek compensation for therapy, lost tuition or opportunity, medical care, and pain and suffering. Past results never guarantee a future outcome; a confidential review gives you a realistic picture.
How much does a Title IX lawyer cost?
Nothing up front for a civil claim. These cases are handled on contingency — no fee unless we win — and the consultation is free and confidential. You should never have to pay out of pocket to learn what options you have.
What type of lawyer handles Title IX and campus abuse cases?
These are handled by a sexual-abuse attorney experienced in both Title IX and civil litigation against institutions. Ashley B. DiLiberto, Esq. is a Pennsylvania sexual-abuse lawyer and Partner at Messa & Associates whose record includes a leadership role in the $2.46 billion Boy Scouts of America settlement. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Serving sexual abuse survivors across Pennsylvania
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