FLORIDA SCHOOLS SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting for Survivors of Student Sexual Abuse in Florida Schools

Every child deserves to grow up in a world where their vulnerability is met with compassion, their innocence is fiercely protected, and their futures are nurtured—not stolen. Yet, recent reports of abuse within Florida schools paint a heartbreaking picture of a system that has failed to uphold these fundamental responsibilities.

This cannot continue. It is time to confront this crisis head-on. Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and protected. Every parent deserves the peace of mind that their child is in good hands.

If you or someone you love has been hurt at a Florida school, know that you are not alone. We are here to help. Contact us for a free consultation.

Sex Abuse Scandals in Florida Schools

Saint John Paul II Academy (Formerly Known as Pope John Paul II High School)

• In June 2006, it was reported that, following allegations he sexually abused one of the minor female basketball players he coached for two years, Brian Joseph Taylor, the athletic director of the school then known as Pope John Paul II High School, resigned.  The alleged victim reportedly told Boca Raton police detectives she and Taylor had begun a sexual affair in 2002, when she was a 16-year-old junior and a member of the girls varsity basketball team coached by Taylor. The sexual abuse reportedly continued until she graduated in 2004.  Boca Raton police records also state that two other female students allegedly were abused by Taylor.  Pope John Paul II High School has since changed its name to Saint John Paul II Academy.

St. Joseph Catholic School (Diocese of Orlando)

• In May 2025, a $25 million lawsuit was filed against the Diocese of Orlando,and St. Joseph Catholic School over alleged sexual abuse by the late priest Robert “Bob” Hoeffner.

Hoeffner was accused of grooming and sexually abusing a student at St. Joseph Catholic School between 2009 and 2014.

In January 2024, Hoeffner was allegedly shot by another former student of the same school. The shooter claimed to have been sexually abused by Hoeffner. Hoeffner allegedly bought him a car and shared a bank account with him.

During a search of Hoeffner’s home, detectives reportedly found 46 pages of handwritten notes describing child sexual abuse.

Pinellas Preparatory Academy

• In May 2025, former Pinellas Preparatory Academy teacher Lee Hughes was arrested due to allegations of child exploitation.

In June 2024, Hughes allegedly engaged with an undercover FBI agent posing as an adult with a nine-year-old daughter. He allegedly expressed interest in a sexually open household and offered to babysit the fictional child. Hughes allegedly sent explicit images nearly ten times after receiving a photo of the supposed child and asked for the images to be shown to the child. Hughes allegedly continued these conversations for over ten months, expressing his intention to sexually abuse the minor. He arranged a meeting in May 2025, where he was arrested.

South Tech Academy

• In March 2025, a family filed a lawsuit against South Tech Academy, accusing the school of failing to protect their 16-year-old daughter from repeated sexual abuse by high school teacher Damian Conti.

Conti had allegedly sexually assaulted the girl in his classroom, a storage closet, and in their cars. 

Conti admitted to sexually abusing the victim.

The family alleged that students and parents had warned school administrators about Conti months before he was suspended. They claimed the administrators allegedly ignored rumors, reports from students, and obvious signs of an inappropriate relationship between Conti and the victim.

Investigators also found thousands of highly inappropriate messages with sexually explicit content between Conti and the student.

Miami-Dade School Board (Michael M. Krop High, Brownsville Middle, Hialeah-Miami Lakes High, South Dade High and Terra High)

• In October 2021, a jury ordered the Miami-Dade School Board to pay $6 million over the alleged sexual abuse of a female student by former Michael M. Krop High teacher Jason Meyers. The lawsuit claimed Meyers allegedly pursued sexual relationships with eight students during his 14 years as a Miami-Dade teacher.

The lawsuit was filed in 2019 on behalf of an unidentified student. The victim was around 16 or 17 years old when she was allegedly groomed and sexually abused by Meyers.

The district was accused of allegedly ignoring the abuse. In 2008, the principal allegedly received an email about Meyers’ sexual interactions with students, but no investigators or police ever contacted the underage victim mentioned. Another victim testified that Meyers allegedly sexually exploited her during a school trip to Washington, D.C. Despite reporting it to administrators, no investigation was conducted, and Meyers was transferred to Palmetto High in 2011.

This was the second lawsuit involving Meyers. An earlier lawsuit filed by another student had settled for $1.1 million.

• In 2020, the Miami-Dade school district settled for $9 million with five victims who were allegedly raped by former Brownsville Middle teacher Wendell Nibbs.

• In 2024, former Hialeah-Miami Lakes High football coach Edward Williams was charged for allegedly having an inappropriate romantic relationship with a 17-year-old student.

• In November 2021, former South Dade High and Terra High teacher Tom Privett pleaded guilty to raping a student. 

Privett was accused of allegedly manipulating an underage student into a long-term sexual relationship at Terra in 2016. 

Another former South Dade student claimed he did the same to her in the late 1980s.

South Dade Senior High School

• In November 2017, a former 16-year-old student was awarded $49.3 million by a jury after allegedly being raped by former South Dade Senior High School teacher Bresnniel Jansen Mones.

Between September and December 2013, Mones allegedly sexually abused the victim multiple times, including engaging in oral sex and digitally penetrating her.

In January 2014, Mones was arrested on two counts of sexual acts with a familial child and one count of sending harmful electronic material to minors.

Downtown Miami Charter School

• In April 2014, a jury awarded $5.25 million to a boy who said he was raped and bullied by another student at Downtown Miami Charter School.

In 2011, the victim was allegedly raped in a transport van on the way to school. The older boy allegedly raped him two more times in the school restroom.

LK is Investigating Sexual Abuse Claims in Florida Schools

Levy Konigsberg is investigating cases of sexual abuse and assault that occurred at Florida Schools. 

You may have a potential claim if you were sexually abused in these or any other Florida schools:

• St. Joseph Catholic School
• Pinellas Preparatory Academy
• South Tech Academy
• Miami-Dade School Board (Michael M. Krop High, Brownsville Middle, Hialeah-Miami Lakes High, South Dade High and Terra High)
• South Dade Senior High School
• Downtown Miami Charter School
• Saint John Paul II Academy (Formerly Known as Pope John Paul II High School)

Do I Have a Case?

You may have grounds to file a civil legal action if:

• You were sexually abused by a teacher or staff at a school.
• The abuse occurred at any school.

Levy Konigsberg represents survivors in civil lawsuits that aim to hold schools accountable for their failures to stop abusive teachers and staff.

As civil claims, these cases are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse and focus instead on holding institutions liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:

• Your abuser is no longer alive.
• Your abuser was never charged with or convicted of a crime.

Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims

In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:

• Past medical and mental health expenses
• Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and psychological harm
• Lost income
• Other economic and non-economic damages

Florida School Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations sets deadlines for victims to bring claims against their abuser or entities responsible for the abuse.

Under Florida law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse who were abused when they were under age 16 and were born after July 1, 1988 may file a civil lawsuit at any time, in most circumstances. 

To understand the statute of limitations for your case, it’s essential to consult with an experienced lawyer. At Levy Konigsberg, our attorneys specialize in handling sexual abuse cases. We can assess the merits of your potential case and determine how the Florida statute of limitations specifically applies to the facts of your case.

Determining the statute of limitations that applies to your sexual abuse case against a Florida school can be challenging, which is why it is best to bring your matter to the attention of an experienced lawyer.

We are committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and seeking justice for survivors of sexual abuse in schools. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing legal representation and support to survivors, and we are actively investigating allegations of abuse. We are working tirelessly to ensure that survivors have access to justice and that future generations of young people are safe from harm within these institutions.