Sexual Assault by a Piano Teacher – Can I File a Lawsuit?

Many kids have taken piano lessons at some point in their lives, as it’s a popular choice for anyone who’s interested in learning to play an instrument. Generally, kids begin piano lessons between the ages of 6 and 9, but those who are musically gifted can start earlier. The vast majority of piano students will not pursue careers in music, but they still benefit from the discipline, focus, and self-esteem they gained from learning to play an instrument.

While there are plenty of YouTube tutorials to help you learn, most people prefer individual instruction from a piano teacher. There are plenty of teachers to choose from, whether you hire someone that makes house calls, or you decide to enroll with a music academy. Alternatively, a music teacher at your school may offer to teach you after school. No matter how you connect with a piano instructor, this person will surely have a profound impact on your life.

Tragically, what should be a fun an enriching experience can turn into a lifetime of pain and suffering if a piano teacher takes advantage of you in a sexual manner. If you are struggling with the impact of sexual assault and harassment while you were a piano student, please take a moment to contact our law firm. Recovering from what you went through won’t be easy, but it’s more than possible to get justice and move forward in a positive direction.

A piano teacher sexual assault lawyer at our office can answer all your questions and educate you on your legal options during a free consultation.

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Who can I Sue for Sexual Assault by a Piano Teacher?

This is a complex question when it comes to teachers that provide private lessons on a one-on-one basis. If the piano teacher is a freelancer who is not hired by a music academy or piano school, this is who you will need to sue. On the other hand, if you were being taught in a music school / academy, you may have grounds to sue the business for its failure to protect you from a sexual predator. Alternatively, you may have been abused while taking piano lessons from a music teacher at your school. In this situation, you can explore the option of suing the school district or the private school.

No matter who you are suing, you will need to establish the following:

• You were owed a duty of care by the defendant.
• The defendant breached that duty of care through acts of negligence or misconduct.
• Because of the abuse you suffered, you sustained one or more injuries of a physical and/or psychological nature
• The harm you suffered merits compensation in the form of pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical expenses, etc.

Why Sexual Abuse is So Common among Students and Music Teachers

The truth is, a lot of music academies are businesses that are focused on profits over anything else. That’s why they are slow to act – if at all – when there are accusations of sexual misconduct against one of their instructors. If the teacher is a well-known pianist with a reputation for shaping students into professional musicians, the school will be even more reluctant to lose their star instructor. As a result, a child molester is allowed to keep their job for many years, while dozens, maybe hundreds of students are permanently damaged by the trauma of sexual assault.

The risk of sexual abuse is even greater with private instructors that are hired by families. This is why it’s important for parents to conduct background checks and ask for references from past students and employers. Parents must also be vigilant for changes in behavior, like unexplained aggression, trouble sleeping, being more withdrawn than normal, and not doing well in school. Unfortunately, many piano students are groomed and abused for years by their teacher, and these incidents have a devastating effect on their relationships, career prospects, and other areas of their life.

As we mentioned before, piano lessons can also be given by music teachers at the child’s school. This is a way for teachers to earn extra money on the side or voluntarily invest time and effort into a student with exceptional talent. Unfortunately, this can also be an opportunity for a teacher to establish an emotional bond with the child that develops a sexual relationship. And since they are in the same building with the student 5 days a week, it’s even easier to control and manipulate the victim.

No matter how a piano teacher entered your life, there is no denying that many of these professionals engage in sexually inappropriate conduct with minors. If you are a survivor of piano teacher sexual assault, our law firm is here to fight for you and the compensation you deserve.

How Long You have to File a Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

California’s Assembly Bill 218 went into effect on January 1, 2020, thereby extending the amount of time that adult survivors of child sexual abuse have for a lawsuit. So, if you were sexually assaulted by a piano teacher, you can file a lawsuit by either of these dates:

• 22 years after turning the age of consent (18 in California)
• 5 years from whenever you discover a psychological and/or physical injury stemming from sexual abuse during your childhood

The second date is based on the discovery rule, which is a powerful form of protection for child sexual assault victims. Essentially, it takes away the age requirement from the statute of limitations for a civil claim. Thus, even if you are beyond the age of 40 at this point, there may be a chance to sue for sexual assault or exploitation by a piano instructor. For more information on the deadline to file a piano teacher sexual assault lawsuit, contact our office.

Lawyers that can Sue for Child Sexual Assault

As a victim of sexual abuse during childhood, it’s essential to learn about your rights from an experienced attorney. Our legal team is ready to speak with you during a free case review, which you can schedule by contacting our office.

If you are interested in suing for sexual assault by a piano teacher, we will represent you on contingency, so you pay $0 upfront. Upon recovering your settlement from the defendant, a percentage of it is deducted to cover legal fees. Under the Zero Fee Guarantee, this is our only form of payment, so there’s nothing for you to pay if we don’t win you case.

A piano teacher sexual abuse lawyer is standing by to assist you, so contact Normandie Law Firm today.

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