Athol Murray College of Notre Dame Students Report Institutional Abuse

By James Richards  |

Please note that Slater Vecchio LLP is not counsel for any individuals referenced in this article

Several former Athol Murray College of Notre Dame students have reported experiencing abuse while attending the institution in the 1980s.

It all began when Todd Tisdale told TSN about his experiences in 1986 at the institution, including sexual, bodily, and psychological attacks.

“As soon as I arrived, I was exposed to the hazing culture”, according to Tisdale. “It first began with modest tasks like fetching an older student a chocolate milk or carrying their clothing to the laundromat, but things rapidly became odd.”

Tim Tisdale, who attended the school the year before, claimed he was unaware of any assault claims.

More than ten former students have been in touch with Tisdale since he originally revealed the allegations to TSN in December, according to Tisdale, who claims they have encountered similar situations while attending Notre Dame.

Tisdale filed a statement of claim against the school in 2018, alleging that the continuous alleged assaults were the result of the school’s carelessness.

The statement of claim claims that the sexual and physical assaults, mental and emotional abuse, and associated injuries were brought about by Notre Dame’s carelessness, violation of trust, and breach of fiduciary responsibility. Tisdale suffered severe, long-lasting, and irreversible injuries, including chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, drug and alcohol addiction, and self-injury. The school currently denies all allegations of the events described by Tisdale.

If you have experienced abuse — whether physical, emotional, sexual, or financial — from a current or former intimate partner, this decision may open new avenues for civil compensation.

We understand how difficult it is to revisit these experiences. Our team works with survivors on a confidential, trauma-informed basis. We discuss your options at your pace, in a safe environment, and on a contingency-fee basis, which means you don’t pay for our services until your claim concludes.

There are also options to protect your identity throughout the legal process, including publication bans and the use of pseudonyms where appropriate.

If you would like to discuss whether the new tort of intimate partner violence may apply to your situation — or any other potential civil claim relating to abuse you have experienced — we are here when you are ready.

Get Help Now or call us at 1-866-649-2623 for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

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James Richards
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As a member of our class action practice group, I act for survivors harmed by institutional abuses in both class action and individual civil sexual assault claims. I believe that every harmed person deserves to be heard and advocated for.