Attorney for Abuse Victims of Brooklyn Priest Rev. John Abrams
A church is intended to be a place of worship that embraces people from various cultures. However, this image can be shattered if priests belonging to the diocese engage in the sexual abuse of members of the church. For some people, the church and abusive priests evoke terrible memories of abuse. If you or a family member was an abuse victim of Reverend John Abrams, contact an experienced Brooklyn sexual abuse lawyer today.
At Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP, we are devoted to providing you with the aggressive and unique legal representation you need to deal with your case. We recognize how a history of sexual abuse can significantly impact your life, and we are here to fight for you. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal options, contact Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP at (718) 747-9706, or contact us online.
Sexual Abuse Accusations Against Reverend John Abrams
Reverend John Abrams was a priest that worked at the Bayside Sacred Heart Roman Catholic church in Brooklyn, New York. Reverend Abrams worked at the Sacred Heart church for about 25 years. In 2007, the Brooklyn Diocese Review Board (BDRB) released information to the public that Reverend Abrams was engaged in the sexual molestation of minors while presiding over Bayside Sacred Heart.
It is believed that the majority of instances of sexual abuse by Abrams occurred between 1979 and 1982. Despite releasing information regarding Abrams’ actions in 2007, the BDRB became aware of Abrams’ sexual abuse allegations as early as 2005 or possibly earlier. As a result, this concealment of Abrams’ illicit actions would have made it difficult for victims of abuse to pursue a lawsuit against Abrams and the Brooklyn diocese.
Additionally, in 2019, after Reverend Abrams has passed away, there are still victims of Reverend Abrams’ abuse that are coming forward to speak about their traumatic experiences. Fortunately, the State of New York is engaged in passing laws to help victims of abuse pursue compensation against priests and the diocese they work for.
To learn more about filing a lawsuit for a sexual assault case, continue reading and contact an experienced New York sexual abuse lawyer today.
New York Child Victim Act
Amid rampant allegations of sexual abuse against Catholic priests in New York, the New York Child Victim Act was passed to protect victims of abuse. The New York Child Victim Act was passed in 2019, and it extends the statute of limitations for sexual abuse lawsuits against Catholic priests and the diocese that employed them.
The statute of limitations sets the length of time that a plaintiff has to file a particular type of case against a defendant. The Child Victim Act increases the statute of limitations to 55 years of age for individuals that were victims of abuse.
The statute of limitations is a law that is intended to ensure that plaintiffs pursue their lawsuits in a timely fashion. It also protects defendants from being eternally subject to a lawsuit that may never be filed. However, the State of New York has recognized that childhood abuse can be difficult to address for victims who may have wanted to suppress those memories. As a result, the Child Victim Act still allows those victims to be heard long after they have suffered abuse.
Another reason for the Child Victim Act is that some organizations that were aware of abuse allegations against their employees failed to bring this information to the public. In addition to Reverend Abrams, there are a number of accusations against members of the church in solely the State of New York. Millions of dollars have been paid to victims by the diocese in New York for crimes committed by priests and other members of the clergy.
If you were a victim of abuse by a member of the diocese, our firm is here for you. Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP can help you file a lawsuit against the priest that hurt you and the diocese that employed the priest. We understand the difficulty of speaking about a history of sexual abuse, and we share your desire to hold the appropriate parties responsible for their actions.
Work with Our Experienced New York Sexual Assault by Clergy Lawyers to File Your Lawsuit
If you or a family member was abused by Reverend John Abrams, consult with an experienced New York sexual assault lawyer. With over 30 years of combined legal experience, the dedicated legal team at Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP is ready to help you hold abusive priests and the organizations that protected them accountable for their actions. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP at (718) 747-9706.