Queens Attorney for Sexual Abuse Victims of Catholic Priests
One of the worst realizations is that a member of your church was involved in the sexual abuse of children. This scenario becomes even more frightening if you learn that a member of your family was abused. Fortunately, New York is taking steps to hold catholic priests and other sexual abusers accountable for their actions. If you or a family member was a victim of sexual abuse by a catholic priest, contact an experienced Queens sexual abuse attorney today.
At Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP, our firm is committed to helping you pursue compensation against the parties that sexually abused you. We understand how stressful it can be to deal with the effects of sexual assault, and we are ready to fight for you. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim, contact Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP at (718) 843-0300, or contact us online.
New York Child Victims Act
Sexual abuse is a crime that could leave a child or even an adult with long-term psychological issues. Placing your trust in a member of the clergy only to be betrayed and sexually assaulted can have a significant and negative impact on a person. With the abundance of sexual abuse allegations being brought against members of the clergy just within the State of New York, there have been changes to laws to support victims of sexual abuse.
The New York Child Victims Act (NYCVA). Governor Andrew Cuomo passed the NYCVA on February 14, 2019. The NYCVA was intended to combat the widespread incidences of sexual abuse by members of the Archdiocese and other sexual offenders within New York. The NYCVA permits a victim of sexual abuse to file a civil lawsuit against their abuser at any time until the victim reaches the age of 55.
Another benefit of the NYCVA is the ability to reinstate the statute of limitations after it has run on a victim’s potential case. The statute of limitations dictates the amount of time that a person has to file a lawsuit against a party that caused them a physical or financial injury. The NYCVA gives victims one year to file any claims that were previously barred by the statute of limitations.
It is important to note that if a plaintiff does not file their lawsuit under the deadline provided by the statute of limitations, the court will bar the plaintiff’s claim. This will leave the plaintiff without an avenue to pursue legal compensation. Cases that were barred by the statute of limitation cannot be pushed to reach the age of 55 deadline offered by the NYCVA.
Additionally, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until six months after the law was signed on February 14, 2019. This means the abuse victim has up to August 14, 2019, to speak with an experienced attorney regarding their case.
To learn more about compensation for victims of sexual abuse, continue reading and speak with an experienced NYC sexual assault lawyer today.
Pursuing Compensation for Sexual Abuse Victims of Catholic Priests
One option for pursuing compensation for sexual abuse victims of clergy members is to file a lawsuit against the abuser. However, it is also important to note that an employer of the abuser or the diocese may also be held liable for the actions of the illegal actions of the priest. For example, if a priest abused a child, they were in charge of educating at a school, the school may be held liable for the actions of the priest.
In order to include the employer or the diocese in a lawsuit with the abuser, the plaintiff would have to show that the organization possessed information that showed the priest was inclined to commit inappropriate actions to a child. This information could come in the form of an allegation or other types of evidence.
It is also important to note that the Archdiocese of New York has set up the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP). The IRCP is a fund that provides compensation to victims of abuse that have been harmed by priests that were a part of the diocese. This fund is useful as a victim of abuse has another option of seeking compensation that will not affect their legal right to file a lawsuit.
There are currently over 100 clergy members on the list of sexual offenders named by the IRCP. If you were abused by one of these clergy members, our firm could help you address the Archdiocese of New York concerning compensation for your injuries.
Queens Sexual Assault Lawyers You Can Trust
If you or a family member was the victim of a sexual assault by a priest, consult with an experienced Queens sexual assault lawyer today. With over 30 years of combined legal experience, our legal team is prepared to help to file a claim against those that hurt you. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP at (718) 843-0300.