California Attorney for Sexual Abuse Victims of Priests in the Catholic Church

Many Catholics around the world, and in California, have had to painfully accept the allegations of sexual abuse committed by the clergy of the Catholic Church. Disturbing stories of trusted priests abusing young children have been in the media for years. Adding to the horrifying conduct is the Catholic Church’s decision to ignore and cover-up much of the behavior. Survivors of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy are entitled to seek compensation through a civil lawsuit.

The Law Office of Andrew Shubin represents individuals who have been victims of abuse by the clergy and members of the Catholic Church. Our California attorney for sexual abuse victims of priests in the Catholic Church is dedicated to fighting for the rights of those who suffered at the hands of trusted religious leaders. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, call our office at (814) 826-3586.

Filing a Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse By a Priest in California

Victims of sexual abuse, assault, or misconduct by members of the clergy are permitted to seek compensation through a civil lawsuit. A civil lawsuit does not prohibit criminal charges. In many cases, both are available recourses for the victim. However, while a criminal prosecution might get the abuser off the street and punished, it does little to help the victim of the abuse. While money cannot heal the harm a victim of sexual abuse suffered, it could help them to move forward as well as pay for essential psychological or physical treatment.

A victim of abuse can sue the individual as well as the institution that allowed the sexual misconduct to occur. Our California attorney will assist you in filing a lawsuit to hold the responsible parties accountable for the harm you suffered.

As stated, in many of these lawsuits, the Catholic Church could also be held liable for sexual abuse. For example, the church could be held responsible if it failed to provide appropriate supervision and negligently allowed a victim to be abused. Additionally, if there were previous claims or complaints of misconduct or abuse that were not addressed, the church could be held accountable for allowing the threat of abuse to continue. This conduct includes ignoring claims of abuse or moving accused priests from one parish to another. Our office will thoroughly investigate your claim to ensure all responsible parties are held liable.

Evidence of Sexual Abuse by a Priest in California

Many behaviors could be evidence of sexual abuse by a priest. While many of these could occur at the time of the abuse, they are not limited to that period. Different victims will react and behave differently depending on the type of abuse and some people who experience sexual abuse will show no signs at all. Below is a list of some types of evidence that could be used to prove sexual abuse.

• A sexually transmitted disease or infection
• Trauma or bruises around or on the genital area
• Children or young adults bedwetting
• Turning away from religion or the faith
• Distrusting figures of authority
• Inappropriate sexual behavior or language in children

Our experienced institutional sexual abuse victims attorney in California will work with you to help prove you or a loved one was the victim of sexual abuse.

Legal Remedies Available for Victims of Sexual Abuse by Priests in California

There are many reasons to file a lawsuit if you were the victim of sexual abuse by a priest. A common one is the need to heal the emotional and physical wounds that were inflicted. Often, the psychological harm will impact many facets of a victim’s life for years. In some cases, the desire to file a lawsuit is more than personal gain. A victim of sexual abuse often wants to take action to prevent further abuse from a particular priest or stop the Catholic Church from protecting abusers

Through a lawsuit, a victim is entitled to seek monetary compensation. While suing the individual who committed the crime is an important part of your claim, our California sexual abuse attorney will work to build a case against the church or institution that allowed the abuse to occur. A larger institution or church has the funds to pay for the abuse you suffered. Prevailing in a personal injury case might not make the pain and humiliation go away, but a significant financial award could help your life move forward.

The California Statute of Limitations for Lawsuits Arising from Sexual Abuse by Priests

In late 2019, Governor Newsom signed AB 218, which went into effect on January 1, 2020. Under AB 218, survivors of sexual abuse by priests have more time to bring a civil lawsuit against their abuser.

The law increases the time limit a person has to file a sexual abuse action based on a childhood event from the age of 26 to 40. So, under the new statute of limitations, a person who was sexually abused by a member of the clergy has until their 40th birthday to file a civil lawsuit or within five years of the discovery of the damages they suffered, whichever comes later. The law also provides a three-year look back window for people whose claims were previously time-barred. If you believe you have a claim that was barred, contact our California sexual abuse attorney immediately.

Call Our California Attorney for Sexual Abuse Victims of Priests in the Catholic Church for a Confidential Consultation

Sexual abuse of any kind is a traumatic and life-altering occurrence. When the abuser is a trusted member of the clergy, a victim’s faith could be shattered. If you or a loved one was the victim of abuse by a priest in California, contact our attorney for sexual abuse victims of priests in the Catholic Church. Our law firm is dedicated to holding priests and the institutions that allow them to continue their sexual misconduct accountable for their actions. Call the Law Office of Andrew Shubin at (814) 826-3586 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.