Attorney for Abuse by Priests at Bayside Sacred Heart in Brooklyn
For Catholics and many others, the church is a place of acceptance and a venue to come together as a community to practice their beliefs. That is why it will come as a shock to learn that priests at the church you attended were engaged in the systematic abuse of children that were entrusted to their care. If you or a family member was a victim of abuse by a priest at Bayside Sacred Heart, contact an experienced Brooklyn attorney for victims of Catholic priests.
Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP understands the pain and heartache caused by predatory Catholic priests preying upon unsuspecting children and families, and we are here for you. Our firm can help you pursue a lawsuit against these priests and the institutions they worked for in order to hold them accountable for their actions. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal options, contact Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP at (718) 747-9706, or contact us online.
Liability for Sexual Abuse by a Priest
The last scenario any person wants to believe is that the church they attend was harboring priests that engaged in the sexual abuse of children. Unfortunately, for many, that scenario is a reality.
Sexual abuse or sexual assault can occur under a number of different circumstances. Sexual abuse can encompass acts of molestation, rape, or even unwanted sexual touching. Victims who were subjected to sexual abuse at the hands of a priest should not remain silent, believing that their abuse was not enough to pursue the priest for their actions. While it can be difficult to come forward and relive those horrible memories, the State of New York is working to make it easier for victims of sexual abuse to fight back against their abusers.
When determining liability for sexual abuse, there could be multiple parties that are responsible for your injuries. For example, if a priest worked at Bayside Sacred Heart, and he was engaging in the sexual assault of children, the priest, and the diocese could be held liable. This can be accomplished by using the doctrine of vicarious liability.
Vicarious liability allows a plaintiff to hold an employee and their employer liable for actions committed during the scope of the employee’s job. This allows a person to pursue a claim against the priest and the diocese in Brooklyn that provided the priest with the opportunity to engage in sexual abuse.
As recently as June 2019, priests at Bayside Sacred Heart have been accused of committing sexual abuse to other members of the church. For example, Reverend John Abrams was a priest that was accused of molesting altar boys that worked with him. While Abrams has passed away, his victims are left to deal with the aftermath of his actions. That is why it is important for these victims and many others to understand their rights when it comes to holding priests and the Catholic diocese they worked for liable for their actions.
To learn more about filing a lawsuit for a sexual abuse case, continue reading and speak with an experienced New York sexual assault attorney.
When to File a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in NY
Amidst a large influx of sexual abuse claims against Catholic priests and the diocese they work for, New York has implemented changes to assist victims of sexual abuse. One major law change made by the State of New York is the Child Victims Act.
The Child Victims Act is a law that was passed in 2019 that extends the statute of limitations on cases involving sexual abuse. The statute of limitations determines the amount of time that a person has to file a particular type of lawsuit. The Child Victims Act allows victims of abuse to file a civil lawsuit against their abuser and their employer until the victim reaches the age of 55.
This law change allows plaintiffs to pursue compensation for their injuries even if their abuser has passed away by permitting claims against the diocese or other institution that employed them. This is important as some chapters of the Catholic diocese in New York have occasionally been unwilling to release the names of priests that were accused of committing acts of sexual abuse.
Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP can help you bring a lawsuit against the priests and diocese that caused you a lifetime of pain.
Contact Our Experienced Brooklyn Sexual Abuse Lawyers to Handle Your Case
If you were the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest, you should consult with an experienced Brooklyn sexual abuse lawyer today. The skilled lawyers at Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP possess over 30 years of combined legal experience, and we would be honored to represent you in your sexual abuse case. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your case, contact Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP at (718) 747-9706.