Sexual abuse within religious institutions has been rampant for decades. There is evidence that religious organizations were aware of the abuse and took active steps to hide it, rather than protect the children and vulnerable people in their care.
Survivors of sexual abuse in the church can hold the wrongdoers accountable and obtain financial compensation. You can contact the attorneys at Phillips Law Group to learn more about Maine clergy sexual assault lawsuits.
What Conduct Is Actionable?
If a person experienced conduct with no direct genital-to-genital contact, they may wonder whether this was an act of sexual abuse. When the survivor was a child at the time of the interaction, the definitions of sexual abuse, exploitation, and assault are broad.
Any conduct intended to arouse or gratify either party sexually can serve as the basis for a lawsuit against the perpetrator and the church. This can include:
Survivors who were adults when the unwanted contact occurred must prove they did not consent to sexual activity. This is a more difficult standard to meet. However, the lawyers at Phillips Law Group can review a survivor’s experience of sexual abuse by clergy in Maine to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support a lawsuit.
The Impact of the Statute of Limitations
Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse reach adulthood before they understand what happened. In the past, by the time many survivors were ready to confront the responsible parties, the time limit for bringing legal actions had expired.
Maine Revised Statutes § 752-C, which came into effect on August 1, 2000, eliminated the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The state was a leader in recognizing that the impact of childhood sexual abuse could take decades to overcome. Anyone who experienced childhood sexual abuse in Maine by a clergy member after that date can work with attorneys at Phillips Law Group to bring a civil lawsuit against the perpetrators at any time.
A 2021 amendment to the law opened up the possibility of legal action for people who experienced childhood sexual abuse before August 11, 2000. Unfortunately, the Portland Diocese challenged this amendment in court, fearing an onslaught of survivor lawsuits alleging abuse over the past century. The state’s supreme court recently invalidated the provision that allowed people who were abused before August 11, 2000, to file a lawsuit.
Compensation for Survivors
Survivors may file a lawsuit against individual perpetrators if they are still alive. In addition, a survivor can proceed against any organization or entity that facilitated, enabled, or knowingly hid the abuse. Potential defendants in these cases include property owners and supervisors of churches, schools, summer camps, and detention facilities.
Survivors can seek funds to cover their past and future expenses for mental health support and treatment. They can claim compensation for diminished earning capacity if the effects of abuse restricted their education or professional success. Survivors are also entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering resulting from the abuse.
The trauma-informed lawyers at Phillips Law Group can assist a survivor of sexual assault in Maine in filing a suit by identifying the many ways clergy exploitation has diminished their quality of life. They can claim sufficient compensation to ensure a survivor has the resources to live a full life going forward.
Consult an Injury Attorney About Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in Maine
If a member of the clergy or someone employed by a religious institution sexually abused you, consider joining the Maine clergy sexual assault lawsuits. Phillips Law Group is actively pursuing these cases on behalf of survivors. Call today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.
Available 24/7