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New York Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawyers: Lawsuits Being Filed

Guy D'Andrea, Esq. - NJ Abuse Guardian

Hi - I'm Guy. I am an attorney that practices in PA, and NY. I am a former sex crimes prosecutor and my day-to-day cases are almost exclusively helping survivors of sexual abuse get justice. My team and I are ready to help.

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Catholic Church Sex Abuse Lawsuits in New York

Were you or a loved one sexually abused by a Catholic priest, deacon, bishop or volunteer in New York? Our experienced civil attorneys are here to help. Eligible survivors may be able to pursue a private civil lawsuit against the responsible parties.

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You have powerful legal rights. Interested in learning more about your legal options? Contact our dedicated attorneys today for a free, confidential consultation. Learn more from our team of lawyers: https://abuseguardian.com/catholic-church-sexual-abuse-lawsuit/

"Our alliance has over 15 sexual abuse lawyers nationwide dedicated to helping survivors get justice"
- Guy D'Andrea, Esq.

On the heels of a damning grand jury report in Pennsylvania, the Catholic Church is facing a renewed sexual abuse crisis. Survivors of historical abuse have stepped forward across the country, raising fresh allegations against thousands of Catholic priests, deacons, bishops, employees and volunteers. This is truly a national moment of reckoning for the Church.

Child Sexual Abuse In New York's Catholic Church

In their pursuit of justice, hundreds of these survivors have turned to the civil justice system, where lawsuits can be filed against individual priests and entire Catholic dioceses. Were you or a loved one sexually abused by a Catholic priest, deacon or volunteer in New York? It's time to stand up and demand justice. As a survivor of sexual violence, New York State grants you a powerful set of rights, both inside and outside of the criminal justice system.

If you or a loved one were sexually abused by a Catholic priest in New York, our dedicated NY sexual abuse lawyers are here to help. We believe you, and we understand the deep and painful emotions that sexual abuse can cause. Shame, fear, anger, depression - these are natural reactions to terrible trauma. Know that you did nothing wrong.

What happened to you was not your fault. Someone you trusted violated you in the most horrible way imaginable. But it doesn't have to define your life. Recovery is possible, as is finding a sense of closure in this complicated world. You can fight back. Thanks to New York's strong tradition of civil common law, survivors just like you are empowered to pursue justice in a civil court of law by filing a private lawsuit against the responsible parties.

You can demand accountability and financial compensation from the people who hurt you. New York law allows you to file a private civil lawsuit against both direct perpetrators of abuse - the priest who hurt you - and negligent third-party defendants, including the diocese in which you were abused. Compensation may also be available from deacons and bishops who worked to conceal the abuse from secular authorities and the public.

Why The Civil Justice System Matters With NY Catholic Church Sex Assault Lawsuits

New York's Catholic dioceses have been accused of concealing sexual abuse allegations, defending dangerous sexual predators and silencing victims. The civil justice system offers an avenue of justice for thousands of sexual abuse survivors in New York. The fact of the matter is that most abusive priests will never see justice through the criminal justice system. Many are deceased, while the State's criminal statute of limitations, despite recent improvements, prevents charges from being filed in most historical cases of sexual abuse.

Nor is there much hope that New York's Catholic establishment will ever face charges for its role in empowering sexual abusers throughout the years. For decades, Church leaders in New York have been concealing sexual abuse cases from the proper authorities, silencing victims through backroom settlements and empowering dangerous predators. This is unacceptable behavior, but it rarely rises to criminal conduct. The civil justice system is where these claims of negligence and inaction can be heard, where survivors and their loved ones are able to fight for justice on their own terms and hold the responsible parties accountable.

New York Empowers Survivors With New Statute Of Limitations

Thankfully, New York's legislature is set on making it easier for sexual abuse survivors and their loved ones to file private civil lawsuits for compensation. In a historic decision, New York's State Senate has passed a bill to extend the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, providing survivors and their families more time to file suit.

Under the Child Victims Act, a new piece of legislation, survivors of child sexual abuse now have until their 55th birthday to file a civil lawsuit against their abuser and other negligent parties. The criminal statute of limitations, which allows survivors to pursue criminal charges against their abuser, has also been extended to a survivor's 55th birthday. In the past, New York residents had only until their 23rd birthday to pursue a sexual abuse lawsuit.

Perhaps even more momentous, however, is the opening of a 1-year "window of justice," allowing sexual abuse survivors who were once barred from filing suit to pursue lawsuits again. Beginning six months after the Child Victims Act's passage, this "window of justice" will empower survivors who were once prevented from pursuing justice due to the old statute of limitations a new opportunity to file a lawsuit against the Church.

New York Diocese Establish Compensation Programs

Meanwhile, New York's Catholic dioceses are working to reconcile themselves to survivors, setting up "independent" compensation programs for survivors victimized by priests over the past decades. At this point, each New York diocese has created an Independent Reconciliation and Compensation program to provide compensation to claimants.

It is crucial to note that, while limited compensation is available through these independent reconciliation programs, survivors who accept compensation from one of the programs forfeit their right to pursue a civil lawsuit in the future. Some critics have suggested that these compensation programs are just another step in the Church's decades-long effort to conceal sexual abuse from the public. In addition, greater amounts of compensation are likely available through the civil court system. We would strongly suggest contacting an attorney.

Over 450 NY Catholic Priests Named As Sex Abusers

Below is a full list of the priests who have been named by New York's Catholic dioceses as accused sexual abusers. These men have been the subject of "credible" sexual abuse allegations at some point in the past. We've organized our list by diocese; to jump straight to your own area, click on one of the links below: