Illinois Clergy Abuse Lawyer

A Law Firm Helping Illinois Clergy Abuse Victims Get Justice Against Religious Institutions

The issue of clergy sexual abuse has inflicted immeasurable emotional injury on many innocent individuals, and these heinous acts are often hidden or ignored. However, many victims come forward later to get justice. You need an experienced Illinois clergy abuse lawyer on your side to get the compensation you deserve.

In May 2023, a groundbreaking report by the Illinois attorney general unveiled the shocking magnitude of this widespread clergy sexual abuse. The investigation highlighted that approximately 451 religious officials in the state had sexually abused nearly 2,000 minors from as far back as 1950.

This far exceeded the 103 individuals initially named by the church. It also made clear how religious institutions systematically failed to safeguard and advocate for their most vulnerable members.

Read on to learn more about the limit to file claims, the damages that can be recovered by sexual abuse victims, and the legal options they can pursue, including proving liability and overcoming potential challenges when filing a claim.

Settlements Recovered by Our Illinois Clergy Abuse Lawyers

$14,200,000 Recovery for six young men who were groomed and fondled by a priest at a religious school. The priest was hired at the school despite a known record of child sexual abuse at other parishes.
$3,000,000 Clergy sexual abuse settlement for a man who was abused as a child. This case was settled during litigation, despite the church’s repeated attempts to dismiss it on the grounds of an expired statute of limitations.
$2,800,000 Settlement for abuse that occurred at a summer camp operated by church officials.
$1,500,000 Recovery for a sexually abused 55-year-old man against a deceased member of the clergy.

Contact our law firm for a free consultation

Is There a Time Limit to File a Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit?

There is currently no statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit pertaining to clergy sexual abuse in Illinois. However, it’s essential to understand that this law was enacted in 2014 and was not retroactive, so some older cases may still be subject to limitation periods.

Determining if your clergy abuse case is subject to the older statute of limitations can be quite complicated, and the best way to determine if you have a valid claim is to speak with clergy sexual abuse trial lawyers as soon as possible. Our law firm specializes in clergy sexual abuse cases, and can let you know which time limit applies to your case based on when the abuse occurred.

Financial Compensation a Clergy Abuse Attorney Can Help You Recover

The recovery from clergy sexual abuse is not only an emotional journey but can also pose significant financial challenges. Hiring trial lawyers to help gives many victims of sexual abuse a chance to claim compensation for the effects of childhood sexual abuse, which could include:

Medical bills for physical injuries directly resulting from the abuse
Therapy and counseling costs to deal with the profound psychological effects of abuse
Pain and suffering/emotional distress, compensating you for the physical pain you’ve endured as well as the emotional distress from the clergy sexual abuse
Loss of earning capacity for victims whose ability to continue their education or find gainful employment is affected
Loss of enjoyment of life and activities once enjoyed
Loss of consortium, which compensates for the detrimental effects abuse has inflicted on a marital relationship later on in life
Punitive damages, which are awarded to deter future misconduct and punish the liable party

While there’s absolutely no amount of money that can make up for the abuse you’ve endured at the hands of someone you trusted, obtaining compensation and holding the liable parties accountable is a way to get justice and gives abuse survivors the possibility of moving forward.

Navigating the path to justice in these challenging circumstances can seem overwhelming, but you’re not alone. With an experienced legal team of trial lawyers by your side, you have a strong chance of receiving compensation.

Common Clergy Victims and the Consequences They Suffer

Child victims of clergy sexual abuse often suffer extensive consequences stemming from these incidents. This type of trauma can take an emotional toll on the entire family. It can greatly affect many aspects of a survivor’s daily life, and can bring about the following:

Psychological Trauma
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Pregnancy or Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Loss of Faith
Relationship Issues
Sexual Issues
Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Suicidal Thoughts/Behaviors
Self-Harm
Social Withdrawal and Isolation
Academic or Career Impact

Those who have been abused may withdraw from church activities or refuse to be around a member of the clergy. Despite these adversities, it’s important to remember you are not alone. There are numerous resources available to help you navigate through this difficult time.

Common Forms of Catholic Priest Sexual Misconduct

Clergy abuse refers to any sexual behavior or advances made by a clergy member that are inappropriate, unethical, or exploitative. This behavior violates the trust placed in clergy by individuals and communities, and it often takes advantage of the power imbalance between clergy and parishioners or others who look to them for spiritual guidance.

Clergy sexual crimes can take various forms, including but not limited to:

Clergy Sexual Abuse of Minors
Sexual Harassment
Sexual Assault and Rape
Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults
Inappropriate Relationships
Grooming Behaviors
Possession or Distribution of Child Pornography
Exhibitionism or Voyeurism
Sexting or Inappropriate Communications

Sexual crimes from Catholic priests and other religious leaders encompass a wide variety of behaviors that inflict profound harm on many victims. Recognizing and confronting this widespread issue is crucial for the mental health and healing of those affected by these instances.

Legal Options a Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Victim Can Pursue

Victims of priest abuse have several legal pathways available to get justice. These most often include one or multiple of the following:

Filing Criminal Charges: You can report the criminal offense to law enforcement officials. If charges are filed and your case can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, a criminal conviction can result in serious penalties for the perpetrator, including lengthy prison sentences and mandated registration as a sex offender to alert others that they were found guilty of sexually abusing children and to protect children. This process may involve interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence.
Civil Lawsuit: Separate from any criminal case, victims also have the right to work with a law firm or trial lawyers to file a civil lawsuit against their abusers – and sometimes religious organizations like churches or schools – which could lead to substantial monetary compensation for the devastating consequences they suffered. Some religious organizations maintain insurance through a specialized insurance company to ensure they have sufficient resources to provide monetary compensation.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures: The aim of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures is to reach an agreement without resorting to litigation or before a clergy abuse lawsuit is even filed in civil court. This typically includes methods such as mediation and arbitration, which are often faster, more cost-effective, and less adversarial than traditional courtroom proceedings or civil legal action.

After suffering the devastating ordeal of clergy sexual abuse, you have several legal options at your disposal. Whatever you decide, make sure you explore these avenues with trusted, effective legal representation specializing in clergy and Catholic church cases to protect your rights as much as possible.

Throughout a Catholic clergy abuse case, you may encounter many challenges, including:

Proving the abuse and holding your abuser accountable can be difficult, as evidence may be considered weak if the incident occurred years or decades ago. Physical evidence may not exist.
The statute of limitations could prevent you from filing your claim in some cases.
Many religious organizations aggressively defend those accused, posing further complications.
The legal process may bring back painful memories and cause significant emotional distress, making this process very difficult.

It’s crucial to be prepared for these challenges when pursuing a sexual assault case, but remember, you are not alone. Working with an experienced clergy abuse attorney will help you navigate through this difficult process. Trial lawyers are prepared to take on these complex cases.

Contact a clergy abuse lawyer

Filing a Clergy Abuse Claim With Injury Lawyer Team

At Injury Lawyer Team, we understand the sensitivity involved in child sexual abuse cases, including those involving priest abuse, and we’re committed to guiding survivors through the legal process. Here’s what you can expect when you work with us:

Free Consultation
Interview Witnesses
Confidentiality
Evidence Collection
Negotiation and Settlement
Trial Representation

When you decide to seek justice with our experienced legal team, you will receive a comprehensive, professional approach that gives you the best chance of a successful outcome for your clergy abuse claim.

Who Can Be Held Liable in Clergy Sexual Abuse Claims?

The pursuit of justice for sexual abuse survivors often includes more parties than just the person perpetrating the abuse. Depending on the situation, the following parties can be held responsible for clergy child sex abuse:

The Abusive Clergy Member: First and foremost, the perpetrating clergy member themselves is liable for their actions. They can face both criminal charges and civil liability, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Religious Institutions: The religious institution, such as the Chicago Archdiocese, in charge of the clergy member can be held liable in cases where they were aware of the abuse or failed to take proper action to prevent it.
Mandated Reporters: Certain professionals have a legal obligation to report suspicions of child abuse to authorities. These individuals, known as mandated reporters, could include teachers, doctors, nurses, and counselors. If it can be shown that a mandated reporter knew of the abuse but failed to report it, they, too, can be held liable for their inaction.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it provides an overview of who could be responsible. By understanding the various entities that can be held accountable, survivors and their loved ones can work together with legal professionals to seek justice, closure, and recover financial compensation.

What to Do If You Have Experienced or Suspect Clergy Sexual Misconduct

If you’ve been sexually abused or suspect clergy/priest sexual abuse of someone else, here are some steps to follow:

Recognize the Signs: Be aware of behavior changes in individuals who interact with suspected perpetrators such as sudden withdrawal from social or religious activities, a drop in academic performance, or a change of demeanor around certain clergy members.
Encourage Open Communication: Create comfortable environments where victims of sexual abuse can share experiences without judgment or fear.
Report the Incident: If you’re experiencing clergy abuse, or have in the past, report it to law enforcement as soon as you feel comfortable doing so.
Preserve Evidence: Hold on to any physical or electronic evidence related to the misconduct, including emails, text messages, or photos, as these could be crucial in establishing credibility.
Seek Professional Therapeutic Support: This can include a psychologist, therapist, or counselor to assist in managing the emotional trauma associated with the abuse.
Hire a Lawyer: Working with experienced clergy sexual abuse lawyers in cases of priest abuse is instrumental in achieving justice.

Navigating the aftermath of clergy abuse by a priest, Catholic bishops, or other clergy members can be devastating and difficult, but help is available. If you find yourself in this position or believe someone you love is experiencing this, consider taking the steps outlined above.

Contact our law firm toll-free

The Cost of Hiring a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer

When seeking justice for church sexual abuse through a civil claim, one of the primary concerns you may have is the cost of hiring a lawyer. It’s important to understand that, typically, victims do not pay an upfront fee or hourly rates in clergy sexual abuse cases.

Our clergy abuse attorneys work on what is known as a contingency basis – this means legal fees are paid only if the case results in a clergy abuse settlement or court verdict. We then receive a percentage of the compensation as their fee.

In other words, if you don’t get paid, we don’t get paid.

How Long Does It Take to Settle a Clergy Sexual Assault Case?

There’s no definitive timeline for settling clergy sexual assault claims. Every case is unique, and various factors can affect the length of time it takes to settle. These factors typically include the complexity of the case, how long ago the abuse happened, the amount of evidence available, the willingness of both parties to reach a resolution, and the legal strategy applied by your experienced attorney.

It could take anywhere from a few months to a few years to reach a resolution in this type of case. For help with abuse at the hands of a priest or other church clergy member, contact Injury Lawyer Team to schedule a free consultation. We have the experience you need in a trial lawyer.

History of Many Clergy Abuse Cases in Illinois

The prevalence of abuse in Illinois brings a tragic pattern to light. Some notable examples of Catholic church sexual abuse in Illinois:

Father Daniel McCormack came under scrutiny for over 100 accusations before his arrest in 2006 for the assault of five minors in Chicago.
Father Thomas Considine was an educator at a secondary institution based in Elgin, and faced allegations of sexually assaulting an underage adolescent repeatedly.
Another case involved Bruce Wellems, a priest who had been previously associated with the Claretian missionaries assigned to Hispanic neighborhoods in Chicago for several years. He was accused of sexually abusing his victim on multiple occasions beginning in 1973.

Clearly, the issue of sexual clergy abuse in Illinois is a serious problem, and those responsible need to be brought to justice.

If you’re a victim of clergy abuse, you have the right to pursue justice. Remember, you don’t have to navigate the difficult path alone. Our clergy sexual abuse lawyers are here to stand beside and guide you. We are fully committed to achieving justice for what happened and to assisting in your healing journey, inside and outside the courtroom.

Contact the Injury Lawyer Team anytime to schedule a free consultation by calling us at 866-757-6452 or by reaching out online.

Our downtown office, near the Richard J. Daley Center, Dirkson United States Courthouse, and the Chicago Workers’ Compensation Commission, offers convenient access from Aurora, Joliet, and Waukegan via I-90, I-94, and I-290.

Injury Lawyer Team
225 W Wacker Dr #1660 Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (847) 835-8895 Toll Free: 866-757-6452

We also serve clients from Champaign, Evanston, Peoria, Springfield, and throughout Illinois.

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.