Attorney for Victims of Sexual Abuse by the Catholic Church in NYC

Many survivors of sexual abuse in New York City have come forward to file hundreds of lawsuits against their abusers, bringing their cases into the light of and fighting to get justice for the wrongs they suffered.  Many of these survivors suffered abuse when they were just children, and many at the hands of priests, clergy, teachers, and other staff at parishes and Catholic schools across the city.

If you or a loved one was abused by a priest or clergyman in the Catholic Church in New York City, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against them and the Church to seek compensation.  These cases can be filed in addition to criminal cases, working to get you compensation for the harm you suffered rather than focusing the case on the defendant and their punishment.  For help with your potential claim and help understanding how long you have to file your case in New York, contact our attorney for victims of sexual abuse by the Catholic Church in New York City today.  The Law Office of Andrew Shubin can be reached at (814) 826-3586.

Statute of Limitations on Sex Abuse Claims in New York City

Under New York law, victims have an extended deadline to file most claims of sexual abuse, even if the abuse occurred when they were children.  Under new legislation that took effect in 2019, the Child Victims Act, victims have until they are 55 to sue for sexual abuse that occurred when they were under 18.  This opens the door to lawsuits that were previously barred for many New Yorkers.

Even if your case would not be subject to this new deadline, there is a limited one-year window where you can file any claim, no matter how old it is.  This window began in August 2019, so if you have a claim, it is vital to talk to an attorney about filing it immediately before this one-year window closes.

For criminal charges, the statute of limitations is different, but it has also been extended.

Suing Churches and Priests for Sexual Abuse in NYC

If you were subjected to unwanted touching, sexual abuse, or molestation by a priest, clergyman, or an employee of a local church or Catholic school, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against both the individual abusers and the Church as an institution.  Millions of dollars have already been recovered for various survivors of sexual abuse by the Church, and many more victims have come forward to seek compensation for the abuse they suffered.

These lawsuits can be filed for a wide range of sexual misconduct.  Since children cannot consent to sexual activity, any sexual conduct committed against a child can be the basis for a lawsuit against the priest and the Church; there is no need to question whether the conduct was “bad enough” to file a lawsuit.  For adult victims, any unwanted sexual touching or sexual assault can also be the basis of a lawsuit.

These cases are often filed against the individual since they are immediately responsible for the misconduct, but the claim can also be filed against the church in many cases.  Previous allegations and cases around the country have shown the Church and its administrators often shared fault in sex abuse cases by providing negligent security or supervision over priest’s interactions with children and other parishioners and that attempts to hide or cover-up known or alleged abuse allowed additional people to be victimized.  In these cases, your claim against the parish, diocese, or archdiocese may entitle you to substantial compensation.

Compensation for Sex Abuse by the Catholic Church

If you faced sexual abuse and misconduct, you may have suffered a wide range of damages you can seek compensation for.  Many cases of sexual abuse involve trauma – but that trauma may be mental or physical.  If you suffered medical expenses for physical trauma or injuries brought on by sexual abuse in the Church, you could be entitled to claim the full value of this medical care.  The same is true for mental health care and counseling to treat trauma and related conditions, such as depression and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

Physical and mental/emotional harm may have also resulted in other damages.  The inability to work could result in lost wages, and other interferences and harms to your life could result in other damages.  The most common of these is pain and suffering damages.

Pain and suffering damages can pay you back for the mental anguish, emotional distress, physical pain, and physical discomfort brought on by the abuse.  These damages are difficult to demonstrate to a jury, but our attorneys can work with you to help you testify about how the abuse affected your life, your enjoyment of life, and other facets of your well-being.

Damages from these cases may also work to punish the church and individual wrongdoers in your case.  These “punitive damages” may be very high against parishes and church organizations who have had allegations of serious misconduct, coverups, or repeat abuse.

Call Our Attorney for Sexual Abuse by Catholic Priests and Clergy in New York City

Our attorneys for sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the Church in New York City may be able to take your case and fight to get justice and compensation for the wrongs you suffered.  Whether you faced sexual abuse or misconduct as an adult or as a child, our lawyers may be able to take your case and work to seek financial compensation for you to pay for the harm you suffered.  To set up a free legal consultation on your case, contact The Law Office of Andrew Shubin today at (814) 826-3586.