Sexual abuse and sexual assault by clergy members in Chandler, Arizona, have devastating impacts on victims. Impacts of abuse can last for the rest of the victim’s life, causing serious physical and emotional damage.

The experts at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers work tirelessly to bring justice to survivors of clergy sexual abuse. We support you in bringing your case to light and seeking the compensation you deserve for your suffering.

Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to advocating for victims of clergy abuse in Chandler, ensuring they receive the justice and compensation they deserve. Our experienced legal team has a proven track record of handling sensitive clergy abuse cases and achieving significant settlements and verdicts.

Table of Contents

$14.2 Million Priest grooming and handling	$4.1 Million Deacon assault and rape	$3 Million Clergy child abuse filed in adulthood
$2.5 Million Volunteer-perpetrated Catholic church abuse	$2.3 Million Religious school priest teen sexual abuse	$1.5 Million Clergy abuse case filed against a deceased priest

We conduct thorough investigations to uncover the truth, ensuring all aspects of abuse, including emotional distress and other damages, are fully addressed. Our deep expertise in Arizona clergy abuse law allows us to navigate these complex cases effectively and fight for your rights.

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Understanding Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases

Clergy sexual abuse refers to any time a member of the clergy uses their position of authority in the church to perform or solicit sexual acts of any kind. The victim may be a member of the clergyman’s congregation, but this is not always the case.

Prevalence of Clergy Sex Abuse in Chandler

There have been several accusations and cases brought against priests in the Chandler area. Clergy abuse statistics are not widely available for the Chandler area, but notable cases shed some light on the situation in the city.

Out of a total of 26 priests who have done their ministry in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chandler since 1968, 4 have been accused of sexual abuse [1].
Joseph Bishop of the LDS Church in Chandler was also accused of sexual abuse by different women over decades in his ministry. No charges were ever filed against him.
Joseph Briceno: Priest from Chandler, serving jail time for sex abuse [2].
Dale Fushek: Sexual misconduct charges made over abuse of multiple minors in a parish in Chandler [3].
Wilputte Alanson “Lan” Sherwood: Sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual abuse of 22 minors [4].

These priests were under the Diocese of Phoenix, which covers the Chandler area.

Common Forms of Clergy Abuse

Clergy abuse encompasses any acts of sexual contact with a minor or a non-consenting adult. These are some of the common forms of clergy abuse experienced by victims:

Sexualizing conversations: Suggestive jokes, inappropriate comments, asking highly personal questions, and other sexual language.
Exposure to pornographic materials: Being shown or given pornographic materials/videos by a clergyman, often in exchange for something.
Inappropriate touching: Touching the victim or forcing the victim to touch the abuser, either over or under clothing.
Removing clothing: Any disrobing in the presence of the clergyman, whether it’s the victim or the abuser.
Kissing, hugging, or cuddling: Any invasion of personal space beyond your consent.
Any sexual acts with a minor: Minors cannot provide consent for any sexual acts.
Non-consensual sex acts: Rape, sodomy, coerced sex acts, and all other sexual acts done without consent.

This list is not extensive, and the listed acts are not mutually exclusive. In many cases of sexual abuse, the victim experiences multiple types of abuse over a period of time.

The Profile of Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims

Reports show a majority of clergy sexual abuse victims are boys between the ages of 11 to 17 [5]. The second most common group facing abuse is adult women [6].

People who are victims of clergy sexual violence often show symptoms including depression, PTSD, and flashbacks. In addition to these, victims of clergy abuse specifically report other long-term impacts like feelings of shame, lack of control over their lives, and difficulty in trusting others [7].

Common Signs of Clergy Child Abuse

Any kind of sexual contact with children is always non-consensual. Parents, guardians, and other loved ones should look out for common signs of child abuse.

Physical signs

Blood, stains, or damage to undergarments
Discomfort or pain when walking/sitting
Frequent UTIs, yeast infections, or genital pain
Bruising, swelling, or bleeding in genital areas
Unwanted pregnancy

Behavioral signs

Sudden phobias or changes in hygiene
Suicidal thoughts, PTSD symptoms, or depression
Decline in school performance or attendance
Bedwetting, nightmares, or regressive behaviors
Running away, self-harming, or inappropriate sexual knowledge
Avoidance of physical contact and overprotectiveness of siblings

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Eligibility to File a Clergy Sexual Abuse Claim

Sexual abuse claims against clergy members are usually filed as civil cases for compensation. A claim can be filed by anyone who fits into one of the following four groups:

Child victims
Parents or legal guardians of child victims
Adult victims
Adult survivors who were sexually abused as minors

Liability in Clergy Abuse Cases

Abusers are directly liable for clergy sexual abuse. They are often criminally liable and liable for civil suits, but the institution they worked under may also be held liable in many cases.

Institutions can be included in a civil case for sex abuse because of a concept known as vicarious liability. When an employee commits abuse while performing their duties, the institution can usually be held liable. The institution may also be liable if it acted in some way to assist the perpetrator, such as covering up abuse reports.

Negligent hiring processes, shuffling of priests to different parishes, failure to report abuse to authorities, and failure to investigate reports of abuse are common in cases of clergy abuse.

Types of Cases Handled by Our Chandler Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we help victims of clergy sexual abuse seek compensation from their abusers and the institutions harboring them. Sexual abuse cases can be brought against bishops, priests, pastors, religious school teachers, and other clergy members from any faith or denomination.

The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Lawsuit in Chandler, Arizona

In 2020, Arizona updated the statute of limitations for child sex abuse. Victims of child sexual abuse can file civil cases for up to 12 years after their 18th birthday. For adults, the statute of limitations for a civil suit remains at two years from the date of the abuse.

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Steps to Take if You Are a Sexual Abuse Victim

Make sure you’re in a safe place, then seek out medical attention. Contact a secure sexual abuse hotline to find a medical facility near you that treats abuse victims.

Documenting abuse and collecting evidence is essential when you want to bring a case against your abuser. Examples of evidence for a clergy abuse case include medical documentation, psychological evaluations, and witness testimonies.

Collecting evidence of abuse is difficult for survivors of sexual violence, but it’s vital in getting justice. Working with a legal firm specializing in clergy sexual offenses in Chandler can help guide you on what evidence to collect and how to proceed with the case.

Survivors in Chandler, Arizona, can access resources for support from organizations like these:

How Our Chandler Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Help

When you contact our team, we’ll listen to your experience and evaluate the next steps for building your case. Then, we’ll work to gather evidence supporting your claim.

After compiling evidence and building a case, we will file a lawsuit on your behalf against the perpetrator and their religious institution.

Often, a settlement agreement will be reached outside of court. If the case goes to court, a jury will deliberate on the evidence presented and decide on compensation packages with the possibility of additional punitive damages.

The Cost of Hiring Our Chandler Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorneys

During cases of clergy abuse, we work on a contingency basis. This means we only get paid if you win the case. When a settlement is reached or a judgment is paid, we will be paid a percentage of the total compensation received.

Contingency fees are negotiated based on your case. The more complex a case is, the higher the fee is likely to be. Cases that go to court often have a higher fee than those that settle outside of court.

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Compensation for Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims

Victims of sexual abuse by clergymen can obtain compensation through a civil lawsuit. Compensation can be awarded for:

Medical expenses
Emotional distress
Psychological care
Punitive damages

Compensation often varies based on the extent and severity of the abuse. The age of the victim at the time of the abuse will also be considered, as well as the impacts of the abuse on the victim.

Contact Our Chandler Clergy Abuse Attorneys Today!

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers are here to support you in getting the compensation you deserve for the abuse you’ve suffered at the hands of corrupt clergy members. Our sexual abuse attorneys will represent you in a civil suit seeking compensation for clergy sexual abuse in Chandler, Arizona.

Call us at (888) 424-5757 or fill in our contact form.

Related Practice Areas

Resources: [1] Eastvalley.com; [2] Bishop Accountability; [3] Eastvalley.com; [4] Phoenix New Times; [5] Research Gate; [6] National Library of Medicine; [7] Good Therapy;

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.