- Three women allege sexual abuse by special ed teacher in 1970s-80s
- School administrators accused of ignoring repeated warnings
- Lawsuit enabled by Maryland's 2023 Child Victims Act removal of statute of limitations
- Cases reveal systemic failures in protecting vulnerable students
Three survivors have filed explosive lawsuits against Baltimore City Public Schools, alleging systemic negligence in addressing repeated sexual assaults by a special education teacher during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The complaints detail how Alvin Hunt, who also coached school sports, allegedly used his position to isolate and abuse students through tactics like false tutoring offers and drugged cigarettes.
Legal experts note these cases highlight a national pattern: 43% of historical abuse claims now target educational institutions since statute reforms. Maryland's Child Victims Act has already processed 1,200+ filings since April 2023, with 18% involving public schools. Unlike previous limitations requiring action by age 38, survivors now have indefinite windows to pursue justice.
One plaintiff claims administrators transferred her to another school rather than address her pregnancy from alleged rape at 14. Psychological studies show abuse survivors typically require 21 years on average to disclose childhood trauma, explaining delayed legal actions. The lawsuits seek punitive damages rather than targeting Hunt directly, focusing instead on institutional accountability.
Baltimore's education system now joins Maryland's juvenile detention centers and Catholic dioceses in facing abuse reckonings. Attorneys emphasize the cases demonstrate how predator protection often becomes organizational habit rather than isolated incidents. Recent audits show 29% of U.S. school districts lack mandatory abuse reporting protocols for historical cases.
Legal analysts predict these filings will pressure schools nationwide to re-examine old personnel records. Survivor advocates recommend districts implement three safeguards: independent review boards for abuse claims, mandatory trauma training for staff, and public databases of disciplined employees. As one plaintiff stated through tears at Monday's press conference: 'I've been running from this for 40 years. It ends today.'
