US Coast Guard Students Demand $130 Million for Alleged Sexual Assault

More than a dozen former students of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy filed a lawsuit seeking $130 million in damages, alleging the school allowed sexual violence to go unchecked. The group of 12 women and one man accused the academy in New London, Connecticut, of enabling sexual abuse for nearly four decades and failing to protect victims or provide redress. Each former student is demanding $10 million in damages. The complaints were filed under federal law, which requires administrative action before a lawsuit can be asserted.

The U.S. Coast Guard has been under scrutiny after a media report accused it of covering up human rights abuses, and a Senate subcommittee found that it failed to take action against perpetrators and mistreated victims. The complaints relate to assaults from the mid-1980s to the present. Despite federal law only allowing complaints to be filed within two years of an incident, the deadline was extended due to the clients’ recent awareness of the Coast Guard’s liability.

In response to the allegations, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman stated that the agency is committed to protecting its employees and improving prevention, victim assistance, and accountability. The complaints highlight a culture of shaming within the Coast Guard that discourages victims from coming forward, improperly addresses perpetrators, and denies victims necessary medical care. U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan acknowledged that the agency had at times failed to ensure a culture of safety for all.

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