INTERLOCHEN, Mich. – A new report on alleged abuse at Interlochen Center for the Arts is renewing calls from state lawmakers to expand how long survivors of childhood sexual abuse have to sue.
The 97-page report describes decades of alleged misconduct by adults at the northern Michigan arts boarding school, with claims stretching from the 1950s through the 2010s.
Dozens of former students told investigators they experienced behavior ranging from inappropriate comments to sexual assault. The report also references Jeffrey Epstein, who attended Interlochen in the 1960s and later became a donor. Two former students told investigators he paid for their flights and was frequently physically inappropriate with them.
Since many of the allegations are decades old, many former students can no longer pursue civil claims under Michigan’s statute of limitations.
It’s the same hurdle survivors who say they endured abuse at Vista Maria in Dearborn Heights are currently facing.
State Rep. Julie Brixie, D-Meridian Township, has reintroduced what’s being called the “Justice for Survivors” bill package, House Bills 6047-6051, a House version of legislation that has already passed the Michigan Senate. The package would create a one-year “revival window” allowing survivors whose civil claims have expired to file lawsuits. It also would extend the civil statute of limitations to age 48.
“The laws that we have on the books today do not adequately allow for what is a very common occurrence, especially in childhood sex abuse,” Brixie said.
Michigan lawmakers previously extended the civil statute of limitations to age 28 during the Larry Nassar case in 2018. But that change was prospective, meaning it did not reopen claims for many other survivors whose legal deadlines had already passed.
Brixie said studies show the average age survivors disclose childhood abuse is 52, and argues the current law does not reflect delayed reporting.
“It’s only when the institutions that are involved accept responsibility and understand what happened that they usually will take the appropriate steps to protect people in the future,” Brixie said.
State Sen. Kevin Hertel, (D-St. Clair Shores), who was lead sponsor of the Justice for Survivors package in the Michigan Senate, said in a statement too many survivors have been “denied their day in court” because the state’s “outdated and restrictive statute of limitations has already closed the door on justice.”
Attorney Neil Rockind said the push to extend deadlines can collide with practical challenges in court.
“There comes a point where cases are too old, too difficult to prove or disprove, for the legal system to take them on,” Rockind said, noting that institutions often argue they cannot fairly defend against claims when evidence and witnesses may be gone.“The institutions would have really no ability, no reasonable, fair ability, to defend against the claim,” Rockind said. “That’s why these institutions push back against extending the statute in perpetuity.”
In a statement, Interlochen President Trey Devey said the findings are “heartbreaking” and “contrary to everything Interlochen stands for,” adding that the school is grateful to those who came forward.
The Justice for Survivors package would need to advance out of the House Judiciary Committee and pass the full House before it could become law.