Survivors of clergy sex abuse often feel the impact of that abuse for the rest of their lives. If you’ve suffered abuse at the hands of a clergy member in Mesa, Arizona, you deserve justice and a chance at compensation for the suffering you’ve gone through.

The expert team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is committed to helping you get closure for your clergy sexual abuse case. We’ll walk with you through every step, helping you build a strong case that can’t be ignored.

Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we are committed to securing justice and compensation for victims of clergy abuse. Our experienced legal team has a proven track record of handling clergy abuse cases with sensitivity 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 meticulously investigate each case, ensuring all aspects of the abuse, including emotional distress and other damages, are fully addressed. Our deep expertise in Arizona clergy abuse law enables us to navigate these complex cases effectively and fight tirelessly to protect your rights.

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Understanding Clergy Sexual Abuse

Clergy sexual abuse is any sexual abuse or assault perpetrated by a member of the clergy at a religious institution. This abuse takes place within the scope of the clergy member’s duties as a religious leader.

Prevalence of Clergy Abuse in Mesa

Sexual abuse in the Catholic church and other religious institutions happens regularly in Mesa. More than 38 priests have been accused of some form of sexual misconduct in the Phoenix Diocese [1].

Some of the priests accused of sexual assault, misconduct, and abuse in Mesa, Arizona include:

Solomon Bandiho: Arrested for seeking child prostitution after attempting to pay for sex with a 16-year-old girl.
Jon William Vovko: Served at the Mesa High School as a teacher, ordained by the Cleveland Diocese, and convicted of sexual abuse of a minor for molesting a 2-year-old boy.
Mark Lehman: Accused of sexual abuse of a teenage boy while he served in a Mesa church. He was connected to Dale Fushek, a priest convicted of sexual abuse in Phoenix.

Many cases of sexual abuse in Mesa go unreported or are never reported publicly after the victims alert authorities within the church. Coverups are a widespread issue in the Catholic church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS).

Victims of sexual violence in the church may be able to build a stronger case if another victim of sexual violence has named their abuser. If your abuser is credibly accused of sexual assault or abuse, we’ll help you discover their history and use it as evidence in your case.

Common Forms of Clergy Abuse

Common forms of sexual abuse by a clergy member include:

Sexual touching: Any inappropriate or non-consensual touching, such as kissing, fondling, or cuddling.
Access to pornography: Clergy members providing porn to the victim, generally in exchange for sexual favors.
Verbal abuse: Sexualizing of conversations, inappropriate questions, dirty jokes, or other sexual statements.
Disrobing: Removal of clothing from the victim or the clergy member.
Non-consensual sexual acts: Any sexual act the victim did not consent to do. Children are never able to consent.
Inappropriate photos/videos: Taking pictures or videos of the victim that are compromising, pornographic, or otherwise sexually inappropriate.

Sexual abuse often shows up in multiple forms that are not mutually exclusive.

The Profile of Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims

Anyone can be a victim of sexual abuse, but the most common victims in clergy abuse cases are boys aged 11-17 [3]. Adult women are the second most common group targeted by abusive clergy [4].

Survivors of sexual abuse often face devastating impacts for decades after the abuse, including depression, PTSD, feelings of intense guilt, anxiety, and difficulty trusting authority figures.

Common Signs of Clergy Abuse Among Child Victims

Visible injuries around genitals (bruising, swelling, blood)
Damaged or stained undergarments
Painful sitting or walking
Regular UTIs or yeast infections
Discomfort in genital areas (itching, pain, burning)
Excessive bathing or refusal to bathe
Developing new phobias
Symptoms of PTSD
Depression
Changes to behaviors and performance at school
Suicidal thoughts
Bedwetting or regular nightmares
Acting as an overprotective caretaker of younger siblings
Exhibiting regressive behaviors from early childhood
Running away from home
Shying away from physical contact, even from loved ones
Self-harming

Eligibility to File a Clergy Sexual Abuse Claim

Sexual abuse claims against clergy members can be filed by:

Children who were sexually abused
Parents or legal guardians of child victims
Adult sexual assault victims
Adult survivors abused as children

Consult a sexual abuse lawyer

Liability in Clergy Abuse Cases

Clergy members who commit sexual abuse can usually be held liable both criminally and in civil lawsuits. The state brings criminal charges after a crime is reported and investigated, but civil cases are handled by outside legal firms like Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers.

In most cases of clergy sex abuse, the religious institution the abuser worked for is also liable based on vicarious liability. This relies on the organization failing to report instances of abuse, hiring negligently, failing to supervise appropriately, or acting to cover up an abusive situation.

Even if the abuser is deceased, the religious institution that employed them during the time of the abuse can still be sued under vicarious liability. Your case against the institution relies on demonstrating a connection showing the abuser was operating under the scope of their employment while committing abusive acts.

The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Lawsuit in Mesa

Arizona updated its statute of limitations statewide for clergy sex abuse in 2020. Under the new law, survivors of childhood clergy abuse have until their 30th birthday to file suit. For adult victims, the statute of limitations is two years after the abusive incident occurred.

Types of Cases Handled by Our Mesa Clergy Abuse Attorneys

Any clergy member can be sued for sexual abuse. Accused priests are the most common clergy members investigated, but pastors, teachers, and other religious leaders can also be sued to hold them accountable for their abuse.

Sexual abuse can happen in any religious institution. It’s most prevalent in the Catholic church but also occurs in LDS churches, Protestant churches, non-denominational churches, and other institutions.

Let’s discuss the specifics of your case

Steps to Take if You Are a Victim

If you are the victim of abuse from a clergy member, you first need to ensure you get to a place where you are safe and out of reach of your abuser. Once you’ve gotten to safety, consider contacting a support hotline like the RAINN national hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673).

They can help you connect to a health facility that can give you a checkup and register any forensic evidence that could be used in your case.

Documenting sexual abuse helps you make a stronger case against the religious institutions you’re suing. Although it’s difficult to think about collecting evidence after you’ve faced abuse, medical and psychological examinations, witness testimonies, communication records, and other evidence can be crucial for your case.

A sexual abuse lawyer from our team will be able to guide you through the necessary steps for compiling evidence and building your case as the victim. Support groups that focus on survivors of sexual abuse can also be a valuable resource for your recovery and next steps.

Survivors in Mesa, Arizona, can contact the AZ Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence or the La Frontera EMPACT SPC for support after facing sexual abuse.

How Our Mesa Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorneys Can Help

The team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the legal process with expertise that only comes through experience. We offer a free consultation to evaluate your case and advise you on the steps to take for your unique circumstances.

We’ll investigate your case and gather all the evidence to present a strong case for compensation. Our Arizona clergy abuse lawyers will advocate for you to get the justice you deserve and the highest compensation possible through either settlement or trial.

The Cost of Hiring a Mesa Clergy Abuse Attorney

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers work exclusively on contingency. This means we don’t take any payment directly from you. We receive a portion of the settlement or judgment paid to you.

Working with our legal team of clergy abuse lawyers, you won’t pay anything out of pocket. We incur the costs of processing fees, evidence collection, court fees, and other costs associated with the case, and there is no requirement for repayment if the case is lost.

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Financial Compensation Awarded to Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims

In both a negotiated settlement and a trial judgment, survivors can be eligible to receive compensation for medical expenses, psychological care, emotional damages, and sometimes punitive damages.

Compensation from a successful lawsuit depends on the extent of the abuse, your age at the time of the abuse, long-term consequences, and other impacts you suffered. The result will also be impacted by whether you settle the case outside of court or the case goes to trial.

Our Arizona sexual abuse lawyers have successfully won settlements for many of our clients. While we know financial compensation cannot fully repay you for the suffering you endured, it can help you with recovery and closure.

Contact Our Mesa Clergy Abuse Attorneys Today!

Jonathan-Rosenfeld-Chicago-Personal-Injury-Lawyer-

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you bring your clergy sex abuse case to light and file a lawsuit to get the compensation you deserve. Starting with a free confidential consultation, we’ll guide you through the legal process of seeking justice step by step, helping you build a strong case before filing.

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

Related Practice Areas

Resources: [1] Bishop Accountability; [2] Research Gate; [3] National Library of Medicine; [4] Rainn

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.