Former U.S. Coast Guard Academy Students Seek $130 Million Over Alleged Sexual Abuse

Over a dozen former students of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy have filed complaints seeking $130 million in damages for alleged sexual assaults that occurred over nearly four decades. The academy is accused of allowing sexual violence to go unchecked, failing to protect victims, or providing appropriate recourse.

Over a dozen former U.S. Coast Guard Academy students have filed complaints seeking $130 million in damages, alleging the institution allowed sexual violence to persist unchecked for nearly four decades.

The group, comprising 12 women and one man, claims the academy in New London, Connecticut, enabled abusers and failed to protect victims or offer them appropriate recourse. Each is demanding $10 million in damages, according to their attorney, Christine Dunn.

This development follows a year of scrutiny on the Coast Guard after media reports and a Senate subcommittee revealed a culture of shaming victims and insufficient action against perpetrators. The complaints were filed under federal law, which mandates administrative filing before a lawsuit.

A Coast Guard spokesperson stated the service will address the complaints per federal law, reaffirming its commitment to workforce protection and significant resource allocation for prevention and support.

The allegations span incidents from the mid-1980s to the present. Although federal law typically only allows complaints within two years of an incident, Dunn argued the timeline started last year when clients became aware of the Coast Guard's liability.

The Senate subcommittee's December hearing and recent report highlighted the institution's mishandling of abuse cases, improper perpetrator addressing, and lack of adequate medical care for victims. Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan acknowledged the agency's failure to ensure a safe culture.

(With inputs from agencies.)