CLERGY SEX ABUSE LAWYER IN NEW YORK CITY

A survivor of clergy sexual abuse may have the right to pursue a claim against the individual who committed the abuse and, in some cases, against the church, diocese, religious order, school, or other organization that failed to protect them.

Potential claims may involve negligent hiring, supervision, retention, failure to investigate complaints, or failure to act on warning signs.

The legal options available depend on the circumstances of the abuse and the laws of the state where the claim is brought.

The clergy member who committed the abuse may be legally responsible, but other parties may also bear responsibility.

Depending on the circumstances, potential defendants may include a church, diocese, religious organization, school, youth program, employer, or other institution that knew or should have known about the risk and failed to take appropriate action.

An investigation can help determine what the institution knew, when it knew it, and whether additional parties may be liable.

Potentially. Claims involving sexual abuse can be subject to special statutes of limitations, revival laws, discovery rules, or other provisions that differ from ordinary personal injury cases.

The deadline may depend on when the abuse occurred, the survivor’s age at the time, when the harm was discovered, and the laws of the state where the claim is brought.

Because these rules can be complicated and can change over time, consider speaking with an attorney to understand which deadlines may apply to your case.

Potentially. A civil lawsuit and a criminal prosecution are separate legal proceedings with different purposes and standards of proof.

A survivor may still have a civil claim even if the clergy member was never arrested, charged, or convicted.

An attorney can review the available evidence and help determine whether a civil claim may be available.

The evidence involved will vary from case to case.

Relevant evidence may include medical or counseling records, church or diocesan records, prior complaints, internal investigations, personnel files, transfer records, emails, letters, witness statements, and documentation showing how the institution responded to allegations or warning signs.

In institutional abuse cases, records showing what an organization knew and how it responded can be especially important.

The compensation available depends on the circumstances of the abuse and the laws of the state where the claim is brought.

Potential damages may include compensation for counseling and medical expenses, emotional distress, pain and suffering, lost income or reduced earning capacity, and other losses related to the abuse.

Some cases may also involve additional forms of damages depending on the conduct involved and applicable law.

Clergy sexual abuse cases can involve sensitive personal circumstances, institutional records, historic allegations, and difficult questions about what religious organizations knew and whether they failed to protect survivors.

As America’s Largest Injury Law Firm™, with more than 1,100 lawyers nationwide, $35 billion recovered, and 35 years of experience, Morgan & Morgan has the resources to investigate serious abuse claims, review institutional records, identify potentially responsible parties, and pursue the compensation our clients may be entitled to.

Depending on the case, your legal team may include attorneys, paralegals, case staff, investigators, and other professionals who can help move the claim forward while treating sensitive information with care and respect.

Morgan & Morgan offers free case evaluations, so there is no cost to speak with us about what happened. If we are able to take the case, our team can explain the applicable fee arrangement and what to expect throughout the process.

If you or a loved one experienced clergy sexual abuse in New York, contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free, confidential case evaluation to learn more about your legal options.