Sexual assault and abuse in school athletic programs often stay hidden for years. Students fear retaliation, embarrassment, or not being believed. Parents raise concerns only to be told the behavior is “just hazing” or part of team culture. At Breit Biniazan, we see firsthand how damaging that silence can be.
Our firm has filed claims on behalf of former Liberty High School wrestlers who were allegedly subjected to sexualized hazing and abuse within the school’s wrestling program. These cases are about holding a school district and its leadership responsible for allowing a dangerous culture to exist and persist.
Attorneys at Breit Biniazan filed formal notices of claim against the Peoria Unified School District and multiple senior administrators after investigating years of misconduct within the Liberty High School wrestling program.
Arizona law requires a notice of claim before suing a public school district. These filings put the district on notice that former students are seeking accountability for sexual assault, sexualized hazing, and systemic failures to protect student-athletes.
Our clients are seeking meaningful financial recovery, but just as importantly, they are demanding changes to ensure this type of abuse is not allowed to continue under the guise of school athletics.
The claims filed describe a wrestling program where the alleged sexually abusive conduct became routine. Students were allegedly forced into sexual contact, physical assaults, and intimidation during practices and team activities.
These incidents were not isolated. The alleged abuse began early in our clients’ high school careers and continued over multiple years. The environment inside the program allowed this behavior to escalate, creating serious risk to student safety.
Sexual assault is not hazing. When schools fail to draw that line, students suffer.
These cases are not limited to the actions of individual students. They focus on what school leaders failed to do.
The claims filed by our firm allege that school administrators and district leadership:
When adults with authority do nothing, abuse continues. Schools are not allowed to look the other way.
The Fortenberry brothers were among the first former Liberty High School wrestlers to speak out. Since then, additional former students have come forward with similar accounts of sexualized hazing and abuse within the same program.
Several of those former wrestlers have also taken legal action, describing how the environment inside the wrestling program permanently affected their education, mental health, and trust in authority.
When multiple students describe the same misconduct, it points to a systemic failure and not a misunderstanding.
Sexual assault and abuse in schools leave lasting damage. Survivors often carry the impact into adulthood, affecting their mental health, education, and ability to trust institutions that were supposed to protect them.
Civil legal action is one of the only ways families can force transparency and change when schools fail. These cases are about protecting future students and making sure school districts take responsibility when they fall short.
As our firm has stated publicly, progress requires action from those who have the power to protect students and the willingness to use it.
At Breit Biniazan, we represent individuals facing powerful institutions when the stakes could not be higher. We filed these claims to demand accountability, enforce safety standards, and ensure schools do not minimize or ignore sexual abuse.
We believe schools must answer for the environments they allow to exist. When student safety is compromised, silence is not an option.
If you or your child experienced sexual assault, abuse, or sexualized hazing in a school or athletic program in Arizona, you may have legal options.
The attorneys at Breit Biniazan are available to discuss these matters confidentially and help families understand what accountability may look like. These conversations are focused on clarity, not pressure. Reach out to our compassionate team today at (855) 659-4457 to make sure your voice is heard.
