Columbia Clergy Abuse Lawyer

Helping Support Survivors of Sexual Assault

Sexual abuse is terrible and even more harmful when it’s by other clergy members you should have been able to trust within the Catholic church. The impacts of clerical abuse last for a lifetime and affect communities throughout Columbia. If you have experienced sexual harassment from church leaders, you need the help of a Columbia clergy abuse lawyer.

Injury Lawyer Team offers unwavering support to survivors of adult or childhood sexual abuse in Columbia and beyond, emphasizing our commitment to helping survivors pursue justice and compensation.

Injury Lawyer Team stands out as a tireless advocate for clergy sexual abuse survivors, assisting them in filing their clergy sexual abuse claim. Our team combines expertise, compassion, and determination to pursue maximum compensation for both adult and child victims.

We are committed to delivering justice and supporting the healing process by aggressively seeking fair compensation while relentlessly pursuing accountability from abusers and institutions. Our unwavering support accompanies survivors at every stage of their legal journey, ensuring they never face this challenge alone. You deserve justice. We offer a free and confidential consultation to get started.

Settlements Recovered by Our Columbia Clergy Abuse Lawyers

$2,800,000 Sexual abuse settlement for abuse that occurred at a church summer camp operated by Catholic church officials.
$14,200,000 Recovery for six child victims who were groomed and fondled by a priest at a religious school. The priest was hired at the school despite a known record of abuse at other parishes.
$3,000,000 Settlement for a man who was abused as a child. This sexual abuse case was settled during litigation, despite the Catholic church’s repeated attempts to dismiss it on the grounds of an expired statute of limitations.
$4,100,000 Settlement for a woman who was assaulted and raped by a deacon at a large Midwestern church.

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Prevalence of Catholic Church Abuse in Columbia, MD

Columbia falls within the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which provides more comprehensive statistics:

St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church is one of many churches implicated in the scandal.
The Archdiocese of Baltimore has stated that over 150 clergy members have been accused of sexual abuse dating back to the 1940s.

Are There Sexual Abuse Cases Against Catholic Priests?

Columbia, Maryland, has seen numerous notable cases involving the Catholic church. Some significant examples of sexual abuse in the church include:

Charles O. Rouse: In 1995, he admitted to sexually abusing two boys in 1981. In 2002, a man came forward about sex crimes committed by Rouse in 1968-1972. In 2014, another man came forward about things that happened in 1985-1989.
Dennis A. Pecore: He was convicted of sexual assault in 1987 and settled. He was then convicted of molesting a second child victim between 1989 and 1992 when he was working at an elderly care center. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and probation.

What are Common Forms of Clergy Sex Abuse?

Sex crimes committed by Catholic church authorities can manifest in different ways, with the most common forms being:

Grooming: Taking the time to build trust with a child victim’s family to make child sexual abuse at church easier.
Exposure: Exposing oneself to a minor or manipulating the child victim into exposing themself.
Exploitation: Using their position of power within the church to coerce sexual favors from other members of the Catholic church.
Inappropriate Touching: Unwanted touching like kissing, hugging, or fondling.
Sexual Assault: Non-consensual sexual acts ranging from sexual touching to rape.
Sexual Verbal Abuse: Making sexual comments or jokes of a sexual nature.

What is the Profile of Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims?

Crimes like sexual assault can happen to anyone within a religious institution, but there is a profile that typically fits most Catholic church cases, including child sexual abuse survivors.

Young children, usually between 10 and 14, even though they can be any age.
Boys tend to have more incidents of sexual assault within a church than girls.
Those from single-family households or seeking parental guidance.
Children with a strong trust in religious institutions and authority figures.

Every victim of childhood sexual abuse, as well as other sexual abuse survivors, will suffer in different ways. That being said, there are commonalities among sexual assault survivors. Many child victims experience consequences and injuries, such as:

Emotional trauma, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Substance abuse issues
Crisis of faith or spiritual connection
Increased risk of self-harm or suicide
Difficulty forming healthy relationships
Academic or professional setbacks
Sexual dysfunction in adulthood

What are Common Signs of Sex Abuse Among Childhood Victims?

Identifying signs in children is crucial for intervention and preventing harm to other potential sexual assault victims. Some common signs to look out for include:

Decline in academic performance.
Abrupt behavioral changes like regression to younger behaviors, withdrawal from loved ones, or aggressive behaviors.
Inappropriate amount of sexual knowledge for their age.
Fear and anxiety, especially surrounding religion or a specific parishioner.
Issues surrounding sleep, such as nightmares, insomnia, or bed wetting.
Unexplained physical symptoms like bleeding, bruising, or pain in private areas.

Let’s discuss the specifics of your case

Eligibility to File a Clergy Sexual Abuse Claim

Civil lawsuits are a great way to seek justice against those who have committed sexual assault. Certain groups of people are eligible to file one:

Child victims with their parents or guardians acting on their behalf
Adult victims
Adult survivors whose abuse occurred when they were children

A key component of seeking justice and financial compensation in a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit is establishing liability. We can hold individual perpetrators, such as accused priests, liable by filing a civil lawsuit separate from any criminal charges they might face. In institutional liability, we can sometimes hold institutions liable for:

Failing to report or investigate the allegations.
Negligent hiring, supervising, or retention practices.
Vicarious liability, where the institution is responsible for the actions of its employees.

To hold an institution responsible, we must demonstrate a clear link between its actions (or inactions) and the harm suffered.

The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in Columbia

If you’re going to file a civil lawsuit against priests or other religious leaders, the statute of limitations is important. Those who were hurt as adults have 3 years from the date of the last incident or its discovery to file a lawsuit.

For childhood sexual abuse survivors, there is no statute of limitations in Maryland anymore, thanks to the Maryland Child Victims Act.

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Types of Cases Handled by Our Columbia Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Injury Lawyer Team has experience handling these cases throughout Columbia and other dioceses in Maryland. The types of cases that our sexual abuse attorneys can handle are:

Cases where the Catholic Church or other institutions covered up the incident.
Abuse perpetrated by pastors, Catholic priests, and other religious leaders.
Historic cases of abuse.
Cases within different religious institutions.
Cases at specific Columbia institutions, like St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church.

Whether you’ve been sexually assaulted or abused within the Catholic Church or at other religious institutions, these are some steps you should consider taking:

If you’re in immediate danger, get yourself somewhere safe and away from your abuser.
Seek medical attention even if you don’t have visible injuries.
Document everything you can to support your claim.
Preserve your clothes or any other evidence that will strengthen your claim.
Seek support from loved ones or through the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA).
Contact a professional for mental health care.
Consider speaking with a personal injury lawyer who has experience with sexual abuse claims.

How Our Columbia Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Help

As your trusted sexual abuse lawyers in Columbia, Injury Lawyer Team is committed to helping you get justice and financial compensation. We can help you throughout the legal process by:

Creating a safe place for your free consultation so you can share your story and hear your legal options.
Investigating your claim thoroughly and gathering evidence to build a strong case.
Filing a lawsuit against all the liable parties.
Negotiating with opposing counsel to come to a fair settlement.
Representing you in court if we can’t settle outside the courtroom.

The Cost of Hiring a Columbia Clergy Abuse Attorney

Our law firm operates on a contingency fee basis. All legal fees are paid if, and only if, we reach a settlement in your case.

Compensation for Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims

Victims of adult or child sexual abuse might be entitled to compensation and can start with a free and confidential consultation. Injury Lawyer Team has experience securing high settlements for our clients. Some types of compensation you might be entitled to include:

Lost wages
Loss of enjoyment of life
Medical expenses
Therapy costs
Emotional distress
Pain and suffering
Punitive damages

Every clergy sex abuse lawsuit is different, so the overall settlement will vary based on:

The strength of the evidence presented
The overall impact on the survivor’s life
The severity and duration of the abuse
The financial resources of the institution involved

Injury Lawyer Team, consisting of experienced sexual abuse attorneys, is committed to fighting civil clergy abuse cases and securing the maximum compensation possible for survivors. If you or a loved one has been sexually abused or assaulted by a clergy member in Baltimore, you’re not alone. We handle all our cases with compassion and will be there for you every step of the way.

We’re committed to helping survivors get the justice they deserve.

Call (888) 424-5757 or fill out our online contact form today!

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.