►

Child sexual abuse cases need three things.

check icon

Evidence of alleged abuse

check icon

Identifiable perpetrator or negligent party

check icon

Demonstrable harm

Ways Institutions May Be Held Responsible for Child Sexual Abuse

Negligent Hiring

Hiring an employee, volunteer, or other individual without conducting reasonable screening or responding to known concerns about their background.

Negligent Supervision

Failing to properly monitor staff members, volunteers, programs, or interactions with children.

Ignoring Complaints and Warning Signs

Disregarding reports, suspicious behavior, prior allegations, or other red flags that should have prompted action.

Cover-Ups and Fraudulent Concealment

Hiding allegations, misleading families or authorities, transferring an accused individual, or taking other steps to conceal suspected abuse.

Vicarious Liability

In some circumstances, an institution may be held responsible for wrongful conduct committed by an employee or agent acting within the scope of their role.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Violating a position of trust or failing to protect a child who depended on the institution for safety, care, guidance, or supervision.

Failure to Report Suspected Abuse

Failing to notify law enforcement or child-protection authorities when reporting was required by law.

Using Institutional Access or Authority to Enable Grooming

Providing an abuser with access, credibility, privacy, or authority that was used to gain a child’s trust and facilitate abuse.
View more

Long-Term Effects of Child Sexual Abuse

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Survivors often experience PTSD, including flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, making daily life and relationships challenging.

Anxiety Disorders

Child sexual abuse can lead to chronic anxiety, panic attacks, and constant fear, impacting a survivor’s ability to feel safe and secure.

Personality Disorders

Early trauma can disrupt emotional development, increasing the risk of personality disorders such as borderline or dissociative identity disorder.

Eating Disorders

Survivors may develop eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating as a way to regain control over their bodies and cope with trauma.

Relationship and Intimacy Issues

Trust issues, emotional detachment, and fear of vulnerability can make it difficult for survivors to form healthy relationships or experience intimacy.

Somatic Disorders & Chronic Health Issues

Unresolved trauma can manifest as chronic pain, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, and other stress-related health conditions.

Substance Abuse & Addiction

Many survivors turn to drugs or alcohol to numb emotional pain, increasing the risk of addiction and long-term health complications.

Self-Esteem & Identity Struggles

Feelings of shame, guilt, and worthlessness can lead to low self-esteem, self-destructive behaviors, and difficulty developing a stable sense of self.

Increased Risk of Revictimization

Survivors can be at greater risk of future abuse or exploitation due to unresolved trauma, difficulty recognizing unsafe situations, and trust vulnerabilities.

It's easy to get started.

The Fee Is Free®.
Only pay if we win.

  • Number 1
    Submit your claim
    With a free case evaluation, submitting your case is easy with Morgan & Morgan.
  • Number 2
    We take action
    Our dedicated team gets to work investigating your claim.
  • Number 3
    We fight for you
    If we take on the case, our team fights to get you the results you deserve.

In Their Words

Real clients share their experience.

When it came to negotiating, they didn't just settle for anything. They definitely went to the bat for me.

Lashondra
lashondra
Wistia

They took care of me, and now we're doing okay. Thank God that I went to Morgan & Morgan.

Ray
Video thumbnail for ordsi98jme
Wistia

The company handled absolutely everything from start to finish.

Sean
image of sean
Wistia

Lashondra

lashondra

Ray

Video thumbnail for ordsi98jme

Sean

image of sean
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Based on select nationwide reviews.

Ways We Can Help

Clergy Abuse

Religious leaders should protect, not harm, children. Clergy abuse has devastated many. We help survivors hold churches and institutions accountable.

Sex Trafficking

Children are exploited in sex trafficking, suffering severe trauma. We fight for survivors to seek justice against traffickers and enablers who profited from the trafficking.

Institutional Cover-Up

Schools, religious groups, and institutions hide abuse to protect reputations. We help victims expose cover-ups and hold those responsible accountable.

Foster Care Abuse

Foster children face abuse from parents, caretakers, and staff. We protect victims and hold agencies accountable for failing to keep them safe.

Online Exploitation and Child Pornography

Predators exploit children online through grooming, abuse, and trafficking. We help victims seek justice against offenders and negligent platforms.

Family and Domestic Abuse

Many children suffer abuse from family or acquaintances. We fight to hold abusers accountable and ensure survivors get the support they need.
View more
FAQ

  • What should I do if a clergy member abused my child?

    If your child experienced sexual abuse involving a clergy member, their safety and well-being come first. If there is any immediate danger, contact emergency services or local authorities right away.

    You may also want to seek support from a trusted medical provider, therapist, counselor, or victim advocate. Survivors of abuse often carry emotional trauma long after the abuse occurred, and getting support can be an important step toward healing.

    If possible, preserve anything that may help document what happened, including messages, emails, letters, photos, names of witnesses, reports to church officials, or records of counseling or medical care.

    You do not have to figure out the legal process on your own. An attorney can help you understand your options, protect your privacy, and determine whether you may be able to bring a claim.

  • Can I file a lawsuit against a church or religious organization for clergy sexual abuse?

    You may be able to file a lawsuit if a clergy member abused you or your child and a church, religious organization, school, or related institution failed to prevent it, ignored warning signs, covered up prior complaints, or allowed the abuse to continue.

    Clergy sex abuse lawsuits may involve claims against the individual abuser as well as the organization responsible for supervising them. These cases often focus on whether the institution knew, or should have known, that someone posed a danger and failed to take appropriate action.

    Every case is different, and the legal options available may depend on when the abuse occurred, where it happened, and who was responsible for the abuser’s access to children or vulnerable individuals.

  • What if the clergy abuse happened years ago?

    Many survivors do not come forward right away. Some are children when the abuse happens, while others may need years to process what occurred or feel safe enough to speak about it.

    Even if the abuse happened years ago, you may still have legal options. Some states have extended deadlines or created special legal windows that allow survivors of childhood sexual abuse to bring claims after the standard deadline has passed.

    Because these deadlines vary by state and can be complicated, speaking with an attorney can help you understand whether you may still be able to file a clergy sex abuse lawsuit.

  • What types of compensation may be available in a clergy sex abuse lawsuit?

    No amount of money can undo the harm caused by sexual abuse, but a civil lawsuit may help survivors pursue accountability and compensation for the impact the abuse has had on their lives. Compensation may include:

    • Counseling, therapy, and mental health treatment
    • Medical expenses related to the abuse
    • Pain and suffering
    • Emotional distress and trauma
    • Lost income or reduced earning capacity
    • Loss of quality of life
    • Other long-term effects of abuse

    A lawsuit may also help expose institutional failures and prevent others from being harmed in the future.

  • Why should I hire Morgan & Morgan for a clergy sex abuse lawsuit?

    Clergy sex abuse cases require compassion, discretion, and the resources to investigate powerful institutions. Survivors deserve to be treated with dignity and respect throughout the legal process.

    Morgan & Morgan is America’s Largest Injury Law Firm, with 1,100 attorneys and 35 years of experience handling serious injury and abuse-related claims. The firm has recovered more than $35 billion for clients and has the resources to investigate complex cases involving churches, religious organizations, and other institutions.

    If your child was harmed by clergy sexual abuse, Morgan & Morgan can review your case, explain your legal options, and help you take the next step at your own pace.

    Morgan & Morgan works on a contingency fee basis, meaning the Fee Is Free™—you only pay if we win your case. You can start with a free, confidential case evaluation.

Scroll down for more