School Liability and Education Expert Witness Services

Expert Witness Services for School and Education-Related Litigation

School Liability Expert Group provides court-qualified education expert witness services and consultations in sexual harassment, special education, child abuse, and other liability matters involving schools, colleges, daycare centers, and any agency tasked with caring for children in their custody. Our education administration and supervision specialists apply their expertise and research to review a case, determine an institution's professional standard of care, and establish the viability of a liability claim.

Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB)

When a bullied student is injured, experiences emotional distress, or engages in self-harm or suicide, it is typical for litigation requiring an education expert witness to be brought against the school. In these cases, the plaintiff we represent must prove there was a duty by the school to prevent the bullying, and the school failed in that duty. Conversely, the defendants we represent must show they are not at fault. School Liability Expert Group can examine the alleged student interactions to reveal whether the alleged actions were, or were not, bullying and whether these actions should be dealt with or should not be under the student code of conduct.

Special Education, Due Process, and Disability Discrimination

When it comes to the education and supervision of children with disabilities, a higher professional standard of care must be met to avoid costly litigation. At School Liability Expert Group, our special education expert witness services include assisting with IEE evaluations, IEP preparations, and due process hearings. We provide school liability expert witness services to attorneys in case of active litigation, such as sexual harassment claims. We review supervision systems, program quality, and compliance for schools and agencies. We can then make recommendations to minimize the risk of litigation. Our expert witness team also offers staff training on topics such as responding to negative child behaviors or the warning signs of child abuse.

Child Abuse in Schools, Daycares, Churches, and Other Child or Youth-Oriented Organizations

Schools, higher education institutions, and other organizations responsible for caring for students and children must maintain a professional standard of care in line with legal requirements and industry norms to protect them from abuse and avoid lawsuits. At School Liability Expert Group, we deeply understand all anti-abuse laws and what is necessary for a compliant institution. Our education expert witness team can provide comprehensive case analysis, expert reports, and court testimony about liability. We also provide consultations, training, and presentations for institutions to uphold compliant practices.

Personal Injury on School, Institution, or Campus

All educational institutions and child agencies must provide reasonably safe premises and supervision to protect students and children on campus, on school transportation, or off-campus institutional activities. At School Liability Expert Group, we understand what that duty and standard of care entails and provide education expert witness school services for these cases. Moreover, we can advise institutions on established standards and foreseeable risks of harm to students. These safety and security standards stem from federal and state laws and research-based best practices. Whether you need assistance instituting prevention standards or help with litigation related to child injury, our school liability expert witness team can provide the necessary guidance.

Child Custody & School Review and Comparison

In child custody matters the School Liability Expert Group can help find the best school placement for a child that will ensure their safety and educational opportunities. Our education expert witness services include reviewing and comparing schools’ program quality, providing special education expert services, evaluating a school’s past and current liability issues, such as sexual harassment, and assessing overall child custody issues. We provide recommendations and solutions to any discovered school issues to prevent litigation and ensure a smooth operation.

Compliant school management requires a thorough understanding of laws relating to sexual harassment, student supervision, special education, student rights, public and private school employment, and more.

Higher Education

Navigating liability issues in colleges and universities can be complex due to the age and large number of students, as well as the interplay of on-campus and off-campus activities. Enlist the education expert witness team at School Liability Expert Group for litigation involving students' rights violations in higher education institutions, for instance, providing sexual harassment expert witness services. For administrators, we can evaluate your institution's policies, policy dissemination, enforcement practices, complaint investigation, response, and adjudication procedures. We can also offer staff and student training on these matters and compliance with Title IX, the Clery Act, and other laws, as well as make recommendations to tighten campus security and safety.

Disability

Protecting the rights of children with disabilities is a delicate matter that necessitates a higher standard of care. School Liability Expert Group has an unparalleled understanding of all disability laws. We offer expert witness services in cases involving special education program deficiencies, sexual harassment, discrimination, abuse, and other disability rights violations in schools, residential facilities, and other agencies. We also assist in streamlining an institution's programs to meet the unique special education and accommodation needs of children with disabilities to avoid litigation. You can also count on us for specialized staff training on safety, supervision, and compliance with relevant disability laws.

Special Education

Non-existent or inadequate special education programs can deprive children with disabilities of access to free and equal education that they are entitled to by law. Work with the School Liability Expert Group in child evaluation and qualification for special education services, development of robust IEP plans, and due process hearings involving inadequate IEP provisions. Our education expert witness team helps attorneys with lawsuits involving discrimination or other special education rights violations. We also offer comprehensive reviews of special education programs and child custody matters to help schools improve their practices, avoid litigation, or help parents determine child-school fit.

Hiring, Screening, and Supervision of School Employees

When a school negligently hires, supervises, or retains a school employee, it can result in student harm. However, employees can also be subjected to discriminatory or wrongful hiring, termination, etc. School Liability Expert Group boasts unparalleled expertise in all education administration and supervision laws, enough to offer attorneys comprehensive consultations and testimonies in employee or student rights violation cases such as sexual harassment. Institutions can engage our education expert witness team for background checks, training, and supervision of their teachers, volunteers, bus drivers, and other employees to minimize the risk of costly lawsuits.

Student/Child Care, Supervision, & Safety

Negligent child supervision is a prevalent issue in schools and child-oriented agencies, exposing students to injuries, abuse, sexual harassment, and more and exposing schools to costly litigation. During negligent supervision litigation, our education expert witness team at School Liability Expert Group can evaluate the scope of school responsibility in a particular scenario, the foreseeability of danger, and more factors in determining if the school breached the expected standards of care and, therefore, should be held liable. Our firm consults with schools on the activity-specific professional standard of care, including adequate policies, premises and equipment maintenance, emergency response protocols, proper staff training and supervision, and more.

Sexual Harassment, Abuse, & Title IX

Sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and sexual discrimination are pressing civil rights issues that should be met with strong institutional policies for identifying, preventing, and reporting them, as well as a prompt and reasonable disciplinary and corrective response. During litigation, our education expert witness services at School Liability Expert Group include testifying whether the conduct constitutes sexual harassment or discrimination and whether the school acted appropriately in handling the matter. Our education experts can act as Title IX coordinators for institutions, helping staff and students comply with sexual non-discrimination laws.

Section 504, ADA, Disability Accommodations, & Services

Schools and other child-oriented agencies ought to provide proper accommodations, special education services, and other provisions for children with disabilities, as well as protect them from discrimination, sexual harassment, abuse, and hostile environments by various laws. The education expert witness team at School Liability Expert Group is well-versed in all relevant disability laws and ready to help in child disability rights violations cases, including special education deficiencies, sexual harassment, and more. For parents and institutions, we assist in developing tailored and robust 504 plans, behavioral plans, IEP plans, and other disability programs. We provide specialized staff training on upholding disability programs and laws.