Sexual assault in a school setting shatter trust at a time when students should feel protected. Parents send their children to school expecting a safe environment; one free from abuse, intimidation, or exploitation. When schools fail to prevent sexual assault or ignore warning signs, the harm can follow a student for years.
At Breit Biniazan, we represent Phoenix-area students and families whose lives have been altered by sexual assault in public and private schools across Arizona. Our work focuses on accountability. We are determined to hold individuals and institutions responsible when preventable abuse occurs on school grounds or during school-related activities.
Advocating for Arizona Students Harmed by Sexual Assault in Schools
School sexual assault cases are not limited to one age group, one activity, or one type of institution. Abuse can occur in classrooms, locker rooms, hallways, athletic facilities, and during extracurricular programs. In many cases, the harm continues because administrators failed to intervene, investigate, or stop a known pattern of misconduct.
These cases often involve:
- K–12 public schools and school districts
- Charter and private schools
- On-campus and school-sponsored activities
- Peer-on-peer abuse and hazing
- Abuse involving authority figures or staff
Our firm approaches these cases with an understanding of both the emotional toll on survivors and the legal pressure required to force institutional change.
How Schools Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Assault
Schools and school districts have a duty to provide a reasonably safe environment for students. When that duty is ignored, civil claims may arise under multiple legal theories. Liability does not require direct participation in the abuse; failure to act can be enough.
Common failures that lead to school sexual assault claims include:
- Ignoring prior complaints or warning signs
- Failing to supervise students during known risk periods
- Allowing unsafe locker room or hazing cultures to continue
- Inadequate training or oversight of staff and coaches
Improper handling of reports made by students or parents
In Arizona, claims may be brought against individual perpetrators, school administrators, coaches, and school districts when their actions or inaction allows abuse to occur or continue.
Sexual Assault in School Athletics, Teams, and Extracurricular Programs
Athletic programs can create environments where abuse goes unchecked, especially when hazing, power imbalances, or intimidation are normalized. Wrestling rooms, locker rooms, weight rooms, and team travel settings are common locations in school sexual assault cases nationwide.
When abuse involves coaches, trainers, or team leadership, these cases often overlap with claims involving sexual abuse by coaches or trainers. Our firm handles these matters with a coordinated approach to ensure no responsible party escapes scrutiny.
Case Spotlight: Liberty High School Wrestling Hazing Allegations
Breit Biniazan is currently representing former Liberty High School wrestlers who have come forward with allegations of years-long sexualized hazing within the school’s wrestling program.
Five former student-athletes retained legal counsel to pursue claims against the Peoria Unified School District and several top administrators, seeking a combined $6 million in damages. The allegations describe a culture of sexual hazing within the program that students say was known among team members and coaches.
Attorney Kevin Biniazan, representing the Fortenberry brothers, stated that the need for corrective action at Liberty High School appeared obvious and that these claims are intended to force accountability from those responsible for protecting students.
The notices allege severe misconduct, including:
- Sexual battery during wrestling practice
- Forced sexual contact in the wrestling room
- Ongoing hazing practices described as sexually violent
- Physical assaults occurring on school grounds
These claims highlight how unchecked team environments can become dangerous when oversight fails.
The Impact of School Sexual Assault on Students and Families
Sexual assault during formative years can alter a student’s academic path, emotional health, and sense of safety for years to come. Survivors may experience anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, withdrawal from school activities, or reluctance to attend school at all.
Families are often left navigating mental health care, counseling, and disrupted education while also confronting institutions that seem to be neglecting student safety. Legal action can help families regain control and push schools to adopt safer practices.
What a Phoenix School Sexual Assault Claim Can Address
A civil claim may seek compensation for:
- Emotional trauma and psychological care
- Medical treatment and therapy
- Academic disruptions or lost educational opportunities
- Pain, suffering, and long-term harm
- Institutional failures that allowed abuse to continue
Why Families Across Arizona Turn to Breit Biniazan
Breit Biniazan represents individuals facing powerful institutions at moments when the stakes could not be higher. We approach school sexual assault cases with determination, discretion, and a clear focus on restoring control to survivors and their families.
We understand that coming forward is difficult. Our role is to shoulder the legal burden, confront resistance from school districts, and pursue outcomes that reflect the seriousness of what occurred.
Talk With Breit Biniazan About a Phoenix School Sexual Assault Case
If your child was sexually assaulted at school or during a school-related activity in Phoenix or anywhere in Arizona, the experienced team at Breit Biniazan is prepared to listen and take action.
Visit us online or call (855) 659-4457 today to speak with our firm in a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We are committed to protecting students, challenging institutional failures, and helping families move forward with strength and clarity.
