Confidential · Survivor-Centered
Confidential Legal Guidance for Interlochen Survivors
The recently released external investigation describes historical reports of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, grooming behavior, and serious boundary violations involving adults connected with Interlochen Center for the Arts.
If you experienced abuse or misconduct while attending Interlochen Arts Camp, Interlochen Arts Academy, or another Interlochen program, you may have questions about your privacy, your legal rights, and whether legal options remain available.
Marcus Baldori is a Michigan litigation attorney who provides confidential, survivor-centered case reviews. He works with experienced co-counsel who has represented survivors in institutional abuse matters for more than ten years, including litigation arising from the abuse committed by Larry Nassar at Michigan State University.
You control what you share, when you share it, and whether you take any further action.
A consultation does not require you to file a lawsuit or make an immediate decision.
Last updated August 4, 2026
What the Interlochen Investigation Reported
Interlochen Center for the Arts published the results of an external investigation on July 28, 2026. According to Interlochen's published summary, the investigation examined accounts of sexual misconduct spanning the 1950s through the 2010s.
The reported conduct ranged from inappropriate sexual comments and violations of professional boundaries to allegations of sexual abuse and violence. The accounts involved adults employed by or affiliated with Interlochen, including faculty members, administrators, residential-life staff, camp counselors, visiting artists, and board members.
Interlochen stated that the investigation began in 2024 after an alumna reported her experience involving a longtime faculty member and administrator. The investigation was later expanded to invite Academy alumni and other people who may have experienced or witnessed misconduct to participate.
News reports state that more than 70 alumni described sexual abuse or misconduct and that 47 adults connected with Interlochen were implicated across several decades. The reporting also described allegations that permissive institutional conditions, power imbalances, inadequate boundaries, and failures to respond allowed misconduct to continue.
Interlochen has stated that it provided the names of individuals accused of misconduct to the Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office.
These public reports may cause former students and campers to reconsider experiences they have carried privately for years. A legal consultation can help a survivor understand what the investigation may mean for their individual situation. For a fuller summary, read what the investigation report says.
You Do Not Have to Tell Your Entire Story During the First Call
Many survivors wait years or decades before discussing what happened. Some people do not initially understand or describe an experience as abuse. Others remember only parts of what occurred or are uncertain about dates, names, locations, or witnesses.
You do not need to organize every detail before contacting an attorney.
An initial conversation may focus on when you attended Interlochen, whether you participated in the Camp or Academy, the general role of the person involved, whether you previously told anyone, and what you would like to understand now. You may pause the conversation, decline to answer a question, or decide not to proceed.
The purpose of the consultation is to provide information and help you evaluate your options. It is not to pressure you into filing a lawsuit or disclosing unnecessary details.
Could a Former Interlochen Student or Camper Have a Legal Claim?
Every situation requires an individual legal evaluation. The existence of a public investigation does not automatically establish that every survivor has a viable civil claim.
A legal review may examine the conduct of the individual involved as well as the actions or failures of an institution. Relevant questions may include whether the person involved was an employee, faculty member, counselor, administrator, trustee, guest artist, donor, volunteer, or another affiliated adult. The review may also examine whether warning signs or earlier complaints existed, whether Interlochen knew or reasonably should have known of a risk, whether supervision was adequate, whether reports were properly handled, and whether institutional practices allowed misconduct to continue.
The passage of time does not make what happened unimportant. It can, however, make the legal analysis more complicated. Filing deadlines, exceptions, jurisdictional rules, available evidence, and potential changes in Michigan law must be evaluated carefully — we explain the moving pieces in our guide to civil claims. A consultation is intended to determine whether a viable legal path may exist. It does not presume that a lawsuit is available or appropriate in every case.
What Baldori Law Can Evaluate
Potential Claims and Responsible Parties
Whether the available facts may support a claim against an individual, an institution, or another legally responsible party.
Institutional Responsibility
Whether an institution failed to protect students, investigate warnings, supervise personnel, enforce appropriate boundaries, preserve records, or respond properly to reports of misconduct.
Available Evidence
Enrollment records, camp and Academy records, photographs, yearbooks, performance programs, letters, journals, medical and therapy records, witness statements, prior complaints, personnel materials, and institutional policies.
Privacy Considerations
What information remains private, when a survivor's identity could become part of a legal proceeding, and whether protective measures may be available.
Filing Deadlines and Legal Changes
Historical abuse claims can involve complicated limitation periods. The applicable law may depend on when the conduct occurred, the survivor's age, the parties involved, and future changes in Michigan law.
Possible Next Steps
Preserving evidence, further investigation, reviewing public records, identifying witnesses, communicating with another party, participating in an existing process, or pursuing litigation when legally supported.
A Legal Team With Significant Institutional Abuse Experience
Marcus Baldori works with co-counsel who has represented survivors in institutional abuse cases for more than ten years. That experience includes work arising from the sexual abuse committed by Larry Nassar at Michigan State University, as well as other institutional abuse matters.
Institutional abuse cases require more than general personal injury experience. These cases may involve decades of records, institutional policies, prior complaints, complex limitation issues, multiple responsible parties, trauma-informed communication, and difficult questions regarding privacy and evidence. The legal team combines Michigan litigation experience with substantial experience investigating and pursuing institutional abuse claims.
Personal Attention From a Michigan Litigation Attorney
"I represent people in serious matters where the facts are personal, the consequences are significant, and careful preparation matters. A survivor should not feel processed through a call center or pressured into signing documents before receiving clear answers.
When you contact Baldori Law, the goal is to understand what happened, identify the questions that matter, and explain your options in straightforward language. I will not ask you to relive unnecessary details simply to determine whether a further legal review makes sense."
— Marcus Baldori, attorney profile
Privacy and Confidentiality
Privacy is one of the most common concerns in institutional abuse matters. Contacting Baldori Law does not automatically notify Interlochen, law enforcement, the outside investigator, the person accused of misconduct, or another third party.
Communications with a lawyer may receive legal protections, but submitting a website form does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship. If litigation is filed, a survivor may sometimes ask to proceed under a pseudonym or seek a protective order. Anonymity is not automatic — the court must consider the circumstances, the rights of the parties, and applicable legal standards.
Before taking legal action, the available privacy protections and possible risks should be explained clearly. Our guide to protecting a survivor's identity covers this in depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have reported the abuse when it happened?
Not necessarily. Many survivors do not disclose abuse immediately. The absence of an immediate police report, school report, or complaint does not by itself determine whether the experience occurred or whether legal options exist. A delayed report can affect the available evidence and legal analysis, which is why an individual consultation is important.
What if I do not remember the exact date?
Exact dates are not always available, especially when conduct occurred decades ago. School years, camp sessions, performances, faculty assignments, dormitories, cabins, photographs, yearbooks, correspondence, and other life events may help establish an approximate timeframe.
What if the person involved is deceased?
The death of the individual accused of misconduct does not automatically determine whether another person or institution may bear legal responsibility. The available claims, evidence, responsible parties, and filing rules must still be evaluated.
What if I live outside Michigan?
Former Interlochen students and campers may now live throughout the United States or in other countries. The legal analysis may involve Michigan law as well as the law of another state. Residence outside Michigan does not necessarily prevent a person from requesting a case review.
Will Interlochen learn that I contacted your office?
Contacting Baldori Law does not automatically notify Interlochen. The limits of confidentiality and any circumstances in which information might later be disclosed should be explained before legal action is taken.
Do I have to participate in Interlochen's investigation?
A legal consultation is separate from the institution's investigation. Whether to participate in an institutional investigation is a personal decision. Before sharing sensitive information, a survivor may wish to understand who retained the investigator, how the information may be recorded, whether it may be shared with Interlochen or law enforcement, and whether the survivor may have an attorney present.
Can I remain anonymous?
A person can usually speak privately with an attorney without making a public disclosure. If a lawsuit is filed, a court may permit the use of a pseudonym or other protective procedures in some circumstances. Anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Will I have to go to trial?
Not every civil matter goes to trial. Some matters are resolved through negotiation, mediation, or another process. No attorney can ethically guarantee that a case will settle or that a survivor will not have to participate in litigation. The possible paths should be explained before a decision is made.
What if I do not have documents?
A lack of personal documents does not necessarily prevent an investigation. Records may exist through Interlochen, former classmates, public archives, institutional publications, medical providers, prior complaints, or other sources.
What if I am unsure whether what happened was legally considered abuse?
You do not need to identify the correct legal term before speaking with an attorney. You can describe the experience in your own words. The attorney's role is to evaluate the facts, the power relationship, the person's position, your age at the time, and the applicable law.
Does contacting a lawyer mean I have to sue?
No. A consultation allows you to ask questions and understand your options. You remain free to decline representation or decide not to pursue a claim.
How much does a consultation cost?
The initial consultation is free and confidential. There is no obligation to file a lawsuit or retain the firm.
Will I owe legal fees if there is no recovery?
Accepted cases may be handled on a contingency-fee basis. This generally means that attorney fees are collected only if a financial recovery is obtained. The fee percentage, litigation costs, and client responsibilities will be explained in a written agreement before representation begins.
Interlochen Survivor Resources
We maintain a set of plain-language guides for Interlochen survivors and their families, alongside our statewide institutional abuse practice and school and campus abuse resources.
- What the Interlochen External Abuse Investigation Says
- Can a Former Interlochen Student Bring a Civil Abuse Claim in Michigan?
- Evidence That May Matter in a Historical School or Camp Abuse Case
- Can an Interlochen Abuse Survivor Protect Their Identity?
- Should a Survivor Speak With an Institution's Outside Investigator?
- Why Survivors May Wait Decades Before Disclosing Institutional Abuse
- Michigan Survivor Rights & Reporting Resources
Request a Confidential Case Review
Free, confidential, and pressure-free. A case review can help you understand whether your experience may have legal significance, whether evidence should be preserved, whether a deadline may apply, what privacy protections may be available, and whether taking another step makes sense for you.
Prefer to Speak Directly?
Call or email Marcus — not a call center. Both are just as confidential as the form.
A consultation does not require you to file a lawsuit or make an immediate decision. Se habla español — esta página en español.