DEERFIELD — The lawyer representing an alleged sexual abuse victim is requesting Deerfield Academy “validate” a claim of abuse at the hands of former teacher Peter G. Hindle.

In a press conference held outside the school Wednesday, Boston-based attorney Mitchell Garabedian alleged that Hindle, who taught at the school from 1956 to 2000, sexually abused an unidentified client at least 15 times from 1989 to 1990 in the student’s dorm room. Joining Garabedian was Robert Hoatson, co-founder and president of Road to Recovery, a New Jersey nonprofit that assists sexual abuse survivors and their families. Hindle died in 2017.

Garabedian called for the school to reach a settlement with the former student, who is now approximately 50 years old and lives on the West Coast, and said Deerfield Academy “seems to be ignoring a sexual abuse victim’s request to gain validation.”

“This brave sexual abuse survivor has the strength and courage to speak up and tell Deerfield Academy about the sexual abuse, and in doing so, he’s trying to heal,” Garabedian said. “We have been asking for months for Deerfield Academy to resolve my client’s claims, but Deerfield Academy has been ignoring my client’s requests.”

Jessica Day, a Deerfield Academy spokesperson, said the administration was unaware of the press conference being called and that the school has been working with Garabedian to arrange a mediation session.

“It was a claimant that we are aware of and we have actively been working with attorney Garabedian to schedule mediation,” Day said. “We’re doing our best here and we’re paying attention and absolutely not ignoring him or the claimant.”

If the school does not settle with his client, Garabedian said they may turn toward filing a lawsuit in court against the school and supervisors of Hindle.

“We’re going to plan to file a suit if we can,” he said. “I’m waiting for the school to respond, but I’m also researching the issue of whether the claim is within the statute of limitations against the school and its supervisors.”

Several others have come forward over the years with reports of sexual abuse by Hindle, including at least four represented by Garabedian, who has also represented abuse victims in the Boston Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandal.

The school previously investigated sexual abuse allegations in 2013 through a law firm and found that at least two students had been abused. After that investigation the school announced it would review its policies regarding sexual misconduct, renamed the Peter G. Hindle Schoolmaster’s Chair, removed his name from the school’s squash facility and forbade the former teacher from attending events on campus.

Hoatson said it is Deerfield Academy’s responsibility to make things right by settling the case.

“Deerfield should reach down in their pockets and settle this case immediately,” he said, noting the school is one of the largest and wealthiest institutions in town. “So that this young man can gain closure and help in his recovery.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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