The reality of clergy abuse
Over the last decade, the reality surrounding clergy sexual abuse within the Catholic church and other religious institutions has slowly been brought to light. The sexual abuse of children by clergy was a frequent and pervasive problem that still has not been completely addressed and dealt with. The Catholic Church was very much aware of this problem and failed to stop it, at times even going so far as to cover up these evil perpetrators and keep them in positions of power.
Thankfully, this has recently begun to change. With more victims coming forward, increased public attention and awareness has led to amendments to several states’ laws – extending statutes of limitations and giving victims of abuse more time to take legal action against their abusers and the institutions that enabled them.
Do you have a clergy abuse lawsuit?
Thousands of sexual abuse claims have since been filed against the Roman Catholic Church, the United Methodist Church and the Southern Baptist Convention. We have found that bringing a civil lawsuit against your abuser is one of the most direct ways to hold the church and abuser accountable for their actions.
Seeking a civil lawsuit allows victims to receive financial compensation for the trauma they had to face. Those who have sought civil lawsuits against their abusers have succeeded in securing major financial compensation.
- $19,200,000 Settlement: In 2021, 369 claims were brought against the Catholic Diocese in Pittsburgh. 297 were deemed eligible and 224 claimants came to settlement agreements that averaged nearly $86,000 per victim.
- $1,000,000 Settlement: In 2020, a single plaintiff brought claims against a catholic priest that alleged he was sexually abused by the priest six times while attending a Catholic high school.
- $4,500,000 Verdict: In 2019, A United Methodist Church elder sexually abused a woman while she was attending counseling sessions with him. After filing a negligent supervision claim against the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, a jury awarded her $4,500,000.
- $34,960,000 Verdict: In 2018, A Jehovah’s Witness congregation member sexually abused a number of victims over a 13-year period. Two of the victims rightfully drew attention to the way the church chose to handle the issue “internally,” allowing the abuser to continue the abuse.
- $800,000 Verdict: In 2018, a plaintiff brought allegations that a former youth pastor molested him when he was 13 and coerced him into sexual acts. While the church denied liability by arguing that the youth pastor’s actions occurred outside the scope of employment, the result of the case was $800,000 awarded to the victim.
- $9,100,000 Settlement: In 2016, 8 women sued a Catholic priest for sexual abuse that occurred over forty years prior, when the plaintiffs were children. After the abuse of 6 victims became apparent to the archdiocese, the priest was merely transferred to a new location where he found 2 additional victims to sexual abuse.
These settlements show that while justice has oftentimes been egregiously delayed, there are opportunities for those who were abused by clergy to seek restitution.
If you or a loved one were abused by a priest, pastor, or individual representing or employed by a religious institution, please know that you are not alone and there are resources available to you. You may also be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit against the individuals and institutions responsible for the suffering you endured.
Fill out the intake form on this page for a free and completely confidential review of your case. Constant Legal Group is here to help – we’d be honored to speak with you.
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