Michigan Institutional Sexual Assault Lawyer – Standing Up for Survivors
Survivors of sexual assault deserve justice, dignity, and a voice. When abuse occurs within trusted institutions—such as schools, universities, churches, hospitals, or athletic organizations—the harm extends beyond the individual to the community at large. Attorney Jonathon Homa represents survivors of institutional sexual assault, holding powerful organizations accountable for failing to protect those in their care.
Jonathon represents clients harmed in schools, detention facilities, medical institutions, residential programs, and other care settings. He handles cases involving inadequate supervision, staff misconduct, policy violations, and failures to protect vulnerable individuals from foreseeable harm.These claims are often sensitive and difficult for survivors to confront. Jonathon has experience handling these private matters discretely and with special care to the emotional trauma that survivors suffer.
What are Institutional Sexual Assault Claims?
Institutional sexual assault occurs when abuse takes place within an organization that had a duty to safeguard its members, students, patients, or athletes. Too often, these institutions knew—or should have known—about the risks, yet chose silence or protection of their reputation over protecting vulnerable individuals. Examples of institutions where sexual abuse claims often arise include:
The Impact on Survivors
The effects of sexual assault can be profound and lasting. Survivors often face:
Children and young adults are particularly vulnerable, and the betrayal of trust by authority figures can leave deep emotional scars.
Accountability Under Michigan Law
Survivors may pursue claims against the institution that enabled, concealed, or failed to prevent the abuse. Institutional liability may be based on:
As a Michigan institutional sexual assault attorney, Jonathon Homa works to uncover patterns of misconduct and negligence, ensuring that institutions are held responsible for the harm they allowed to continue.
Accountability Under Federal Law
Federal civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Title IX may arise when a public school, university, or other governmental entity commits or enables sexual assault or harassment.
A § 1983 claim allows a victim to pursue damages against government actors who, under color of state law, violate constitutional rights—such as the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of bodily integrity and equal protection. These claims can extend to school officials who exhibit deliberate indifference to known risks of sexual abuse or who create an environment that fosters misconduct.
Similarly, Title IX—which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs—provides a cause of action when an institution has actual knowledge of sexual harassment or assault by its employees or students and responds with deliberate indifference, effectively depriving the victim of access to educational opportunities.
When public schools fail to protect students from sexual abuse, both § 1983 and Title IX may provide overlapping but distinct avenues for redress, holding the institution and its officials accountable for constitutional and statutory violations.
Experienced in Complex Litigation
Jonathon Homa has represented survivors in high-profile institutional sexual assault cases, including claims against schools, hospitals, and national organizations. This experience has given insight into how powerful institutions defend these cases—and how to overcome those defenses to pursue justice for survivors.
Pursuing a legal claim is not easy, but survivors do not have to face it alone. Attorney Jonathon Homa provides compassionate, confidential, and survivor-centered representation. Our mission is to amplify your voice, hold wrongdoers accountable, and secure the compensation and justice you deserve.
If you or a loved one has experienced institutional sexual assault in Michigan, know that you are not alone. Contact JKH Law, PLC, today to speak with Grand Rapids institutional sexual assault lawyer Jonathon Homa, who will stand with you every step of the way.
JKH Law, PLC
312 Fulton Street East
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 226-3762 (office)
(616) 988-6504 (fax)
info@jkhlawfirm.com
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