Perpetrator Alert: Ron Lawrence, a former teacher in the Tahoma School District who allegedly sexually abused multiple students.
PCVA is alerting the Maple Valley, Covington, Black Diamond, and Kent areas about sexual abuse reportedly perpetrated by Ron Lawrence from the 1970s through the 1990s.
If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Ron Lawrence or has information pertaining to Ron Lawrence, our attorneys are here to listen and help. Learn more about how we help sexual abuse survivors or schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our lawyers by completing our online form or by calling us at (253) 777-0799 or (206) 462-4334.
This article provides information about the allegations against Ron Lawrence and frequently asked questions about claims of sexual abuse.
What are the allegations against Ron Lawrence?
Ron Lawrence was a teacher in the Tahoma School District from 1968 until 1992. While he was a teacher, he allegedly sexually abused multiple students at Tahoma Junior High School.
In 1974 and 1975, eighteen years before Mr. Lawrence stopped teaching, the Tahoma School District received multiple reports that Mr. Lawrence had sexually abused a minor student. Despite the reports, the District refused to fire Mr. Lawrence, deciding to believe Mr. Lawrence’s denial of any wrongdoing over the complaints of concerned parents.
Over a decade later, in 1986, the District received yet another complaint of abuse—a former student reported that Mr. Lawrence had sexually abused him during a trip to Mexico. This time, the District conceded that Mr. Lawrence may be a danger to children and required him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Mr. Lawrence passed the evaluation, and the District used those results as a justification to retain him as a teacher.
Mr. Lawrence continued teaching for the Tahoma School District until 1992, when he voluntarily resigned after the reports of his abuse were made public. By that point, however, Mr. Lawrence had already used his position as a teacher to access and take hundreds of students on overnight trips throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Mexico.
Has PCVA previously represented individuals who were sexually abused by Ron Lawrence?
Yes. Not only has PCVA represented hundreds of individuals who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse, PCVA has also represented multiple adults who were sexually abused as children by Ron Lawrence. PCVA’s familiarity with Ron Lawrence’s personnel file, access to past court documents and records, and knowledge of critical witnesses provides PCVA with a significant amount of institutional knowledge when it comes to helping people who were sexually abused by Ron Lawrence.
How can sexual abuse impact its victims?
Even if there is no outward injury to the body, sexual abuse of a child can have serious psychological effects.
The effects of sexual violence can include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Flashbacks
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dissociation
- Panic attacks
- Substance abuse
- Disordered sleep
- Sexual dysfunction
These are serious issues that can harm a person’s ability to work, study, maintain relationships, and enjoy their lives. Treatment for sexual abuse-related damage can take a long time and become very expensive.
What is the current statute of limitations for child sex abuse in Washington State?
Survivors in Washington often file lawsuits decades after the abuse ended. However, there are many ways the statute of limitations can impact a case, so it is important you speak with an attorney to learn your rights. If you have any questions about the statute of limitations for your potential case, please contact us directly.
Can I come forward or sue anonymously if I’m worried about my privacy?
Most likely. The law usually allows attorneys to file lawsuits on behalf of survivors of childhood sexual abuse using a pseudonym, like “John Doe” or “Jane Doe,” or a person’s initials. It also may be possible to resolve your case privately without filing a lawsuit or going to court.
How can survivors receive damages for sexual abuse?
Our attorneys have been involved in some of the most complicated and concerning sexual abuse cases in the country, and we are often consulted by other law firms for guidance and expertise when representing abuse survivors. We take a trauma-informed approach to our representation that acknowledges the sensitive nature of each person’s case.
Every case is different and results – which depend on the facts of the case – cannot be guaranteed. However, we will fight to hold negligent institutions and individuals accountable. Through our efforts, we have helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars in damages on behalf of abuse survivors. While no amount of monetary compensation can erase the trauma, the financial assistance can help pay for necessary expenses to allow the healing process to begin.
How much do you charge?
Our work is done on a contingency basis. This means that you do not pay us on an hourly basis, and we advance the costs of litigation. If we help you resolve your case, we receive a percentage of the amount you receive, and you reimburse us for the costs we advanced on your behalf.
Our case results
PCVA has a lengthy history of pursuing damages from youth-serving organizations that employed individuals who abused their positions of authority to sexually assault children, including religious organizations, school districts, foster care agencies, boarding homes, and hospitals. See below for links to some of our case results involving such entities:
• $25M Jury Verdict in Sexual Abuse Case Against the State of New Jersey
• $9.5M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Case Against University Place School District
• $9.15M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Case Against the Archdiocese of Seattle
• $7.5M Jury Verdict in Sexual Abuse Case Against YMCA
• $6.75M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Case Against the State of New Jersey
• $3.9M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Case Against Tahoma School District
• $3M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Case Against Seattle Public Schools
• $1.3M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Case Against the Archdiocese of Seattle
• $1.1M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Case Against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
See a more detailed list on our Case Results page.