Attorney for Victims of Sexual Abuse by the Catholic Church in New York

The Catholic Church has faced numerous allegations of sexual abuse by priests and clergy.  After exposing attempts to cover up many of these issues by moving priests around the country or moving them into retirement, hundreds of victims have come forward – and more come forward every year.

If you or a loved one was a survivor of sexual abuse by the Catholic Church, call The Law Office of Andrew Shubin today.  Our attorney for victims of sexual abuse by the catholic church in New York may be able to take your case and fight to get you compensation for the physical and mental harms you suffered from the abuse.  For a free legal consultation on your potential case call us today at (814) 826-3586.

Statute of Limitations on Sexual Assault Claims in New York State

In many states, the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit against a priest or anyone else responsible for sexual assault of a minor is quite short.  Other states are working hard to extend the deadline for filing these cases, helping child victims get justice, even if the abuse or assault happened years ago.  In New York, a 2019 law extended the deadline to file child sex abuse claims so that victims now have until they turn 55 to sue the priest who abused them as a child and the church structures that worked to hide the abuse and allowed the harm to continue.

In addition to this, there is a one-year window in which the statute of limitations is effectively suspended.  This means that anyone who was subject to sexual abuse as a minor in New York– whether the statute of limitations would block their case or not – can still file a lawsuit within that window.  This window began on August 14, 2019, and is supposed to last until August 14, 2020.  If you were subject to abuse by the Catholic Church, call our attorneys today to start filing your case as soon as possible.

Suing the Catholic Church for Abuse by Priests and Clergymen

Lawsuits against the Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of New York have been filed for abuse by priests, lay clergy, teachers in Catholic schools, and others in the church organization.  Many of these lawsuits include the local parish, the Catholic school, the local diocese, or the Archdiocese of New York in the lawsuit as well.

In most lawsuits, the individual whose direct actions caused your harm is the most obvious party to sue.  However, many of the priests responsible for abuse do not have much by way of funds to pay damages or they are long-deceased if the abuse occurred decades ago.  In many cases, suing the church alongside the individual abuser is one of the best ways to get the compensation you need.

In many cases, the administration within the Catholic school, the parish, or the diocese/archdiocese may have shared responsibility for the assault.  Failing to properly screen or monitor interactions with children could have put these kids in jeopardy.  This is especially true if the church already knew that the priest or clergyman involved had prior allegations against them that the church failed to investigate or actively covered up.  One tactic the church has been accused of using is relocating priests to new parishes or new areas where their previous allegations are unknown.  This kind of behavior is especially dangerous, since the church already knew of the history of abuse allegations but failed to fire the priest or remove them from ministry involving other children they could abuse.

Damages for Abuse by Catholic Priests in NY

The purpose of a lawsuit against an abusive priest and church organization is to get the victim compensation for the harm they suffered.  These civil lawsuits are separate from criminal charges, which can also be filed against the perpetrator in many cases.  The major differences between these cases are that a civil lawsuit focuses on getting the victim compensation while the criminal case focuses on punishing the defendant.  The other difference is the standard of proof necessary in the case; it is often easier to prove civil allegations than it is to prove criminal charges.  The damages you can receive in a lawsuit against an abusive priest and the church typically include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The damages for medical expenses include not only the cost of any medical care you needed because of the assault but also any mental health treatment.  Many victims of sexual abuse suffer from PTSD symptoms, depressions, and other mental health conditions, which could need years of expensive therapy and medication.  In addition, if the effects of the abuse and mental health repercussions are severe enough, you might miss work or be unable to work to your full capacity because of the harm you suffered – even if you were abused as a child.  These lost wages can also be compensated.

The damages for pain and suffering can include the physical pain or discomfort of the events as well as the mental anguish and emotional distress of the events.  Sexual abuse survivors often face years of mental and emotional harm from the abuse, which can lead to substantial compensation.

You may also be entitled to additional punitive damages to punish the church or the Archdiocese for its complicity in the abuse.

Call Our Attorneys for Sexual Abuse Survivors of the Catholic Church

The Law Office of Andrew Shubin represent victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse by the Catholic Church in New York.  If you or a loved one in your family was subject to abuse by a priest, Catholic school employee, lay clergy, or someone else in the Church, contact our attorneys for victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in New York to set up a free legal consultation.  For a free legal consultation, call us today at (814) 826-3586.