Attorney Plans Lawsuit Over Alleged Abuse in Buffalo Schools

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Attorney Kayla Ferrel Onder is set to file a legal complaint against Buffalo Public Schools, claiming that a dozen of her clients have been victims of failed abuse reporting and sexual assault.

Onder, who leads the Sexual Abuse Department at OnderLaw, LLC in St. Louis, Missouri, is investigating multiple allegations involving abuse cover-ups and failure by mandated reporters within the school system. She stated that her firm is accepting cases of alleged sexual abuse by staff members or individuals affiliated with the schools.

“I’m accepting cases where a child is claiming they were sexually abused by a staff member,” Onder explained. “At this point, I represent a dozen clients, and I predict there will be many more.” She highlighted that some victims were even younger than high school age when these incidents occurred.

“Number one, we always hope for accountability,” Onder said. “Survivors, especially children who have felt pushed aside, want to be heard. They are often left with lifetime scars, and we hope for civil and monetary compensation for those children.”

She plans to submit a written court complaint with more details within the next 30 days, although the names of victims will remain confidential.

In related developments, Buffalo police detective Richard Hy had previously accused Buffalo Public Schools officials of covering up abuse allegations. He discussed these accusations in a podcast earlier this year, stating he believed it would encourage potential victims to come forward. The Buffalo Board of Education responded to Hy’s allegations during a special meeting on April 28, announcing an independent external investigation.

Hy has appeared on multiple national podcasts to express his concerns about the school district’s lack of response to the allegations, specifically targeting teachers in his most recent comments.

The Buffalo Board of Education plans to hold its next meeting on Wednesday to discuss further actions.