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In the past, sexual abuse in the church was prevalent but hidden. Pastors and other church personnel accused of inappropriate behavior rarely faced significant consequences, even if they were victimizing children.
The situation is much different now, and if you are a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, you can hold the perpetrators, and the institutions that supported them, accountable. The attorneys at Phillips Law Group can represent survivors in Connecticut clergy sexual assault lawsuits. Contact the firm if you are ready to pursue acknowledgment and financial compensation from your abuser.
There is a tragic history of sexual abuse by people with positions of authority in the Catholic Church. Priests, deacons, lay brothers, and teachers in Catholic schools have all been credibly accused, and sometimes found guilty, of sex crimes against children and adults in their pastoral care.
The three Catholic dioceses in Connecticut have all settled multiple lawsuits alleging sexual abuse against children by priests and other church employees or volunteers. The Church has released the names of 150 priests who served parishes or schools in the state and who have been accused of sexual abuse.
Sexual predators can be found in other religions besides Catholicism. Other Christian denominations have also had to confront and resolve their clergy’s acts of sexual exploitation and abuse. Survivors can work with an attorney to file civil claims seeking financial compensation against the clergy of any Connecticut religion or organization that enabled or covered up sexual abuse.
Connecticut General Statute § 52-577d allows substantial time for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file a lawsuit against the perpetrator and any organization or institution that facilitated, enabled, or covered up the abuse. If the abuse occurred prior to October 1, 2019, and the victim was a minor, survivors have until the age of 48 to file a lawsuit. When childhood sexual abuse occurred on or after October 1, 2019, survivors must file a lawsuit by their 51st birthday.
Survivors who are older than Connecticut’s statutory limit should still contact an attorney about whether an exception might allow them to file a sexual abuse lawsuit against members of a religious organization. One such exception eliminates the statute of limitations if an abuser was convicted of a first-degree sexual assault or first-degree aggravated sexual assault.
When a survivor was a legal adult when the abuse occurred, the standard two-year time limit for personal injury lawsuits applies. Again, however, there are circumstances that might extend the legal timeframe in a specific case.
Survivors can sue the perpetrator (if they are alive) and any institutions that facilitated the abuse. These lawsuits are heard in civil court, and the only remedy is money. Sometimes, the abuser apologizes or the institution acknowledges their failure to protect the survivor, and many survivors find the acknowledgement healing.
Survivors can claim the cost of past and future mental health treatment and support. If the survivor suffered physical injuries or developed physical symptoms, they can claim the cost of their medical care. When the survivor’s education or professional attainments were curtailed because of the residual effects of abuse, the perpetrator and institution are responsible for compensating the survivor’s diminished earning capacity.
Survivors are also entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering. The attorneys at Phillips Law Group work closely with survivors to understand how molestation within the Church in Connecticut has impacted their happiness and personal fulfillment, and they will assess victims’ legal cases accordingly. They will claim pain and suffering damages that reflect the harm the survivor endured.
If you were sexually abused by a member of the clergy as a child or as an adult, you have the right to claim compensation. Phillips Law Group works with survivors who are ready to join Connecticut clergy sexual assault lawsuits. If you want to hold your abusers accountable, contact the firm today.
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