Partner Megan Bonanni Published in Michigan Advance: “When time becomes a barrier to justice for Michigan survivors”

Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers Partner Megan Bonanni published a piece in Michigan Advance examining how Michigan’s statutes of limitations can prevent survivors of childhood sexual abuse from seeking legal accountability years or decades after the abuse occurred. 

Megan co-authored the piece with Erin Blayer, a survivor of Larry Nassar’s abuse who has continued to advocate for survivors and their opportunity to be heard and seek accountability. Together, they discuss why survivors may need years or even decades to understand, process and disclose abuse and why the law should account for that reality. 

The piece references both the lawsuits against Interlochen Center for the Arts and the University of Michigan hockey program, where survivors have only recently come forward about abuse that occurred decades earlier, exemplifying how survivors are not always ready to seek justice right after their abuse 

Megan and Erin also examine Michigan’s proposed Justice for Survivors package, which would extend the civil statute of limitations for survivors of sexual abuse, eliminate the civil time limit when an abuser has been criminally convicted and create a one-year revival window for previously expired claims. 

Drawing on her experience representing survivors of sexual and institutional abuse nationwide, Megan has seen firsthand why survivors may not be ready to disclose abuse or pursue legal action until long after it occurred. Her work has included advocating on behalf of more than 400 women and girls abused by former Michigan State University physician Larry Nassar as a representative of the Survivors’ Creditor Committee and serving on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Robert Anderson litigation, which resulted in a $490 million settlement.  

As Megan and Erin write, “Justice and accountability can look different for every survivor, and not everyone will choose to pursue a civil claim. What matters is that survivors have the opportunity to make that decision for themselves rather than having an expired statute of limitations make it for them.” 

Read the full piece in Michigan Advance: https://michiganadvance.com/2026/09/29/when-time-becomes-a-barrier-to-justice-for-michigan-survivors/