Were you sexually assaulted while attending a college or university in Brooklyn, NY?
At Bloom Fudali, we are plaintiff-focused campus sexual assault lawyers preparing every case with experience and dedication.
If you were sexually assaulted while attending a college or university in Brooklyn, you may be able to hold both the person who assaulted you and the school accountable. Our Brooklyn, NY campus sexual assault lawyer can investigate how the school handled your report, preserve the evidence, and pursue compensation for medical care, counseling, and lost educational opportunities.
Bloom Fudali has represented survivors of sexual assault and abuse since 2010. A civil case is separate from any criminal case or campus disciplinary process. Schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your options.
Campus Sexual Assault Lawyer Brooklyn, NY
Campus sexual assault is nonconsensual sexual contact involving a student. It can happen in a dormitory, at an off-campus party, on a team trip, or in a professor’s office. The person responsible may be another student, a faculty or staff member, a coach, or a visitor.
In 2024, Brooklyn accounted for 355 of the 1,341 reported rapes in New York City, the most of any borough. The borough also recorded 1,993 reported sex crimes that year. Police figures do not include assaults reported only to a school.
Types of Campus Sexual Assault Cases We Handle in Brooklyn
Our Brooklyn campus sexual assault attorneys represent students assaulted by classmates, employees, and others connected to a school. We also pursue claims against colleges that ignored warning signs or mishandled a survivor’s report.
- Rape victims. We represent students raped in dormitories, apartments, and other settings connected to campus life. These claims can be brought against the attacker and, in some cases, the school.
- Fraternity sexual assault. Assaults at fraternity houses and Greek life events often involve alcohol, pledging pressure, and members who protect one another. We examine what the chapter and the university knew about prior incidents.
- Drug- and alcohol-facilitated assault. These assaults involve a student who was too impaired to consent. Defendants often raise intoxication as an excuse. In a well-known campus rape case, a Vanderbilt jury rejected that defense.
- Assault by professors, coaches, or teaching assistants. These cases involve a person with power over a student’s grades, scholarship, or playing time. We look at whether the school received earlier complaints about the same employee.
- Doctor sexual assault. Some students are assaulted by physicians or other providers at campus health centers. We pursue the provider and the institution that employed and supervised them.
- Athletic program assault. Team members, trainers, and staff can commit assaults in locker rooms, on road trips, or at team housing. We review whether coaches or athletic administrators received complaints and failed to act.
- Assault in campus housing. Broken locks, unmonitored entrances, and repeat offenders left in place are signs of negligent security. A school that controls a residence hall is responsible for reasonable safety measures there.
- Image-based sexual abuse. Some students record an assault or share intimate images without consent afterward. This conduct is often called revenge porn. We have obtained court orders blocking the distribution of explicit images.
- Mishandled reports and retaliation. Some schools delay investigations, discourage formal complaints, or allow retaliation against the survivor. Those failures can form part of a separate claim against the institution.
Why Choose Bloom Fudali as My Campus Sexual Assault Lawyer in Brooklyn, NY?
Experience Holding Schools and Institutions Accountable
Arick Fudali has represented survivors of sexual abuse in civil litigation since 2011. Before joining the firm, he brought claims on behalf of abuse survivors against universities, school districts, archdioceses, and the Boy Scouts. He earned his law degree at the University of Florida and is admitted to practice in New York. He lives in NYC and works from our office in New York, NY. That work gave Mr. Fudali direct experience with the defenses institutions raise.
Lisa Bloom has advocated for victims of sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination for more than 30 years. She hosted a daily legal program on Court TV for eight years and has provided legal analysis for CNN, ABC, NBC, and CBS. Ms. Bloom and Mr. Fudali have taken on powerful defendants, including Jeffrey Epstein’s estate.
Recoveries for Sexual Assault Survivors
Bloom Fudali has recovered millions of dollars for survivors of sexual assault and harassment. Our results include:
- $35.5 million in a sexual harassment case
- $9.9 million in a sexual assault case
- Compensation for every Jeffrey Epstein survivor the firm represented
- A confidential settlement and two precedent-setting appellate decisions for a rape survivor in a defamation case against a celebrity
We handle campus sexual assault cases on contingency. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
What Is Important to Understand About a Campus Sexual Assault Case?
What Are Important Aspects of a Campus Sexual Assault Case?
A civil claim focuses on who caused the harm and who failed to prevent it. Our campus sexual assault lawyers in Brooklyn review these issues in every case:
- The school’s prior knowledge: Earlier complaints about the same student, employee, or organization can establish that the school was on notice.
- The school’s response: Delayed investigations, pressure to stay quiet, or a culture at the school that tolerated misconduct can support a claim against the institution.
- Separate proceedings: A campus disciplinary finding, a criminal case, and a civil lawsuit each follow different rules. The outcome of one does not control the others.
- Delayed reporting: Many survivors wait months or years before telling anyone. A delay does not prevent a civil claim filed within the legal deadline.
- Privacy: Many survivors want their names kept out of public filings. We discuss confidentiality options at the start of every case.
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Campus Sexual Assault Cases
A survivor can recover economic damages for medical treatment, counseling, and therapy. Lost tuition, a lost scholarship, a delayed graduation, and reduced future earnings are also recoverable losses. Non-economic damages compensate for emotional distress, fear, and loss of enjoyment of life. Damages also cover educational setbacks, such as changing majors, transferring schools, or leaving school entirely. In cases involving especially egregious conduct, a court may award punitive damages.
Liability can extend beyond the person who committed the assault. New York law allows civil claims arising from rape and certain other sexual offenses against any party whose negligence caused the conduct. That can include a college that ignored prior complaints or failed to secure a residence hall. Our Brooklyn campus sexual assault lawyers identify every responsible party before a claim is filed.
The state’s Office of Victim Services may also reimburse certain crime-related costs, such as counseling and lost earnings. Those benefits are separate from a civil recovery.
What Should You Bring to Your Campus Sexual Assault Consultation?
Gather the records you can access. Useful items include:
- A dated log of what happened, who was present, and whom you told
- Texts, direct messages, or social media posts involving the person who assaulted you
- Any report you made to campus security, a Title IX office, or the police, and the school’s responses
- Medical records, including the hospital name and date if a rape kit was collected
- Names of friends, roommates, or classmates who saw you before or after the assault
- Transcripts or financial aid records showing changes after the assault
The consultation is confidential. Our Brooklyn campus sexual assault attorney will review what happened, identify the deadlines that apply, and explain whether the school may share responsibility.
What Is the Campus Sexual Assault Case Timeline?
Under CPLR § 213-c, a civil claim arising from rape or certain other sexual offenses may be brought within 20 years. A criminal charge or conviction is not required. Claims based on other conduct can have much shorter deadlines. Our Brooklyn, NY campus sexual assault attorneys confirm the applicable deadline at the first meeting.
A case begins with an investigation. We collect medical records, campus files, messages, and witness statements. If you have not yet received medical care, hospitals in the state’s SAFE program provide forensic exams and evidence collection. Brooklyn survivors can also find counseling and advocacy through the city’s Family Justice Centers.
After the investigation, we identify every defendant and file the claim. During discovery, the school and other defendants must produce records, answer written questions, and sit for depositions. Some claims resolve through negotiation or mediation. Others go to trial before a jury.
Reach Out to Bloom Fudali to Schedule a Consultation
Contact us to schedule a free, confidential consultation with our Brooklyn campus sexual assault lawyer. Bloom Fudali represents survivors on contingency. There are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our firm responds to inquiries promptly. At the consultation, we will explain your options and the deadlines that apply to your claim.