Baltimore Clergy Abuse Lawyer

Helping Sexual Assault Victims Get Justice Against Clergy Members

Clergy sexual abuse is a significant issue in Baltimore Catholic churches and throughout the country. The impacts of sexual abuse will last for the survivors’ lifetime. If you have been a victim of Maryland clergy abuse, you need to reach out to a Baltimore clergy abuse lawyer. Survivors have options, and a law firm can help.

Injury Lawyer Team is committed to seeking justice and compensation for victims of child sexual abuse and other related offenses. We want to facilitate healing by offering our steadfast support, legal knowledge, and free legal consultation.

At Injury Lawyer Team, we have a proven track record of successfully securing large settlements for survivors who clergy members have sexually abused. Our legal team, including a skilled clergy sexual abuse lawyer, is dedicated to handling your sexual abuse case with compassion while fighting for the rights of sexual abuse survivors.

Our law firm will support your healing journey by securing fair financial compensation. Throughout the process, you can count on our unwavering support and understanding. We understand what child sexual abuse survivors go through and will strive to hold abusers accountable, including large religious establishments like the Catholic church.

Settlements Recovered by Our Baltimore Clergy Abuse Lawyers

$1,500,000 Recovery for a 55-year-old survivor against a deceased priest.
$1,222,000 Clergy abuse lawsuit settlement for an adult man who was sexually assaulted while attending a church-sponsored summer camp.
$1,101,000 Child sexual abuse settlement for a woman who was sexually assaulted by a janitor at a Catholic School as a child.
$3,000,000 Settlement our clergy sexual abuse lawyers got for a survivor who was abused as a child. This case was settled during litigation, despite the church’s repeated attempts to dismiss it on the grounds of an expired statute of limitations.

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Prevalence of Clergy Sex Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Clergy abuse is a major problem within the Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Some alarming clergy abuse statistics regarding the Catholic Church are:

A report found that there are more than 150 clergy members who have abused over 600 children.
There was a clergy abuse scandal, including institutions like St. Mary’s Seminary and Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.

Hundreds of victims of sexual abuse continue to come forward, holding the Catholic Church accountable. Our clergy sexual abuse lawyers can help you recover compensation if you were abused at the Catholic Church.

Notable Catholic Church Abuse Cases and Accused Priests

Throughout Baltimore, many priests and other religious leaders have been credibly accused of sexual abuse. These are some of the most notable cases with religious abusers:

Maurice J. Blackwell: Blackwell was the pastor at St. Edward’s from 1979 to 2003. He was placed on leave in 1993 after allegations of sexual abuse surfaced, and then permanently placed on leave after admitting to a sexual relationship with a minor in the 1970s.
James V. Lannon: Lannon was suspended in DC after sexual impropriety with several teenage boys. Another woman came forward, stating he sexually abused her when she was nine. He was permanently removed from ministry in 1958.

Common Forms of Maryland Clergy Sex Abuse

Sexual abuse by church leaders and their abusers takes on many forms, including:

Sexual Assault: Non-consensual touching ranging from groping to rape.
Grooming: Abusers focus on building trust with the victim’s family to make sexual abuse easier.
Exposure: Exposing oneself to a minor or making them show themself.
Exploitation: Coercing sexual favors from minors by abusing power.
Inappropriate Touching: Often disguised as affectionate gestures, but they’re unwanted.
Verbal Sexual Abuse: Unwanted sexual comments.

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The Profile of Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims

While anyone can be a victim, the vast majority of clergy sexual assault happens to children, specifically boys between the ages of 10 and 14, and those seeking a parental figure.

The impacts of clergy sex abuse can be felt for the rest of the survivors’ lives. Some of the consequences or injuries they might have include:

Substance abuse
Physical and emotional pain
Academic or professional setbacks
Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
Emotional trauma
Crisis of faith
Sexual dysfunction in adulthood
Challenges in forming healthy relationships

Common Signs of Clergy Abuse Among Child Victims

Being able to spot the signs of clergy abuse in children is key to stopping the assault. Some signs to look for are:

Nightmares, bed-wetting, and insomnia
Aggressive behaviors, regression to younger behaviors, or withdrawal from loved ones
Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
Anxiety and fear surrounding religion or certain catholic priests
Drastic changes in school performance
Inappropriate sexual knowledge for their age

Eligibility to File a Clergy Sexual Abuse Claim

In Baltimore, certain people are eligible to file a clergy sexual abuse claim within the filing deadline :

Adult victims of sexual abuse or assault
Adults who survived childhood sexual abuse
Child victims with their legal guardian acting on their behalf

Consult a clergy sexual abuse lawyer

Liability in Catholic Priest Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases

In clergy sex abuse cases, liable parties include both individual perpetrators and the institutions that employed them.

Individual clergy members can face criminal charges for their actions, potentially resulting in imprisonment. Additionally, they may be held liable both criminally and civilly, leading to financial settlement for survivors.

Institutional liability focuses on holding religious organizations accountable for their role in abuse cases. We might be able to hold institutions liable on the grounds of:

Failing to report or investigate the sexual abuse allegations.
Negligent hiring, supervision, or retention practices.
Vicarious liability, which holds them responsible for the actions of their employees.

Establishing this link between the institution’s actions or inactions and the abuse is key to holding religious organizations accountable and securing just compensation for survivors.

The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Civil Lawsuit in Baltimore

Every state has a statute of limitations for filing a civil suit. If you’re interested in filing a civil lawsuit against your abuser or the institutions that facilitated the abuse in Baltimore, the statute of limitations varies.

Adults who experienced sexual abuse have three years from the date of the last incident to file. For childhood sexual abuse, there is no statute of limitations due to the Maryland Child Victims Act.

Adults must consider when the abuse occurred at the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Our attorneys will work with survivors who have been sexually abused to determine how these laws impact their case.

Types of Cases Handled by Our Experienced Law Firm

Our attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team are experienced and able to take on adult and child sexual abuse cases like:

Cases involving various religious institutions, including the Catholic Church, the Baltimore Catholic Archdiocese, and other denominations.
Cases where there is evidence of an institutional cover-up;
Cases with multiple liable parties;
Cases already involved in criminal proceedings;
Abuse by pastors, priests, and other religious leaders;
Historical cases of abuse;
Sexual abuse cases within the Baltimore Archdiocese.

Regardless of which institution the clergy abuse occurred, whether it was the Baltimore Archdiocese or not, these are some steps you should take to ensure your well-being:

If you’re in immediate danger, get yourself somewhere safe and away from your abuser.
Seek immediate medical attention.
Document what you can about the abuse.
Preserve any evidence that can strengthen your case.
Seek support from loved ones and local resources like those provided by the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA). Work with mental health professionals to mitigate psychological harm. There are also faith-based services available to victims of the Baltimore Archdiocese or any Catholic Archdiocese.
Consult with an experienced clergy sex abuse lawyer on the legal action to take. Begin with a confidential consultation to learn more about the legal system and decide whether to pursue a criminal case or lawsuit.

A team of dedicated professionals staffs our law firm. We’ll explain your options for seeking justice regarding the alleged abuse, including civil action. Then, our law office fights beside you to get justice. We aren’t afraid to take on large organizations, such as the archdiocese.

How Our Baltimore Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Help You Pursue Justice

When you’re ready to seek justice, the sexual abuse attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team can help survivors through the legal process:

We offer a free initial legal consultation.
We’ll thoroughly investigate your sexual abuse claim and gather evidence.
We’ll develop a strategic legal strategy to help make your case.
We handle all settlement negotiations on your behalf with opposing counsel.
If necessary, we’ll represent you in court to reach a fair settlement.

The Cost of Hiring a Baltimore Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer

One thing that deters many people from filing a civil suit against their abuser is how they’ll afford the legal fees. At Injury Lawyer Team, we operate on a contingency fee basis. With this arrangement, you don’t have to pay us any legal fees unless we reach a settlement. Even then, the fees will be based on a percentage of your overall settlement.

Compensation Awarded to Survivors of Sexual Abuse

Injury Lawyer Team will go for the maximum compensation possible in your lawsuit. You might be eligible for both economic and non-economic damages due to the suffering you endured, like:

Emotional distress
Pain and suffering
Medical expenses, including therapy bills for mental health care
Loss of enjoyment of life
Lost wages
Punitive damages

Sexual abuse cases are all a little different, so the amount that you might receive in your settlement will depend on:

The severity and duration of the abuse
The financial status of the institutions involved
The strength of the evidence
The impact it’s had on your life
Whether the Archdiocese of Baltimore is liable
How long you’ve been suffering
Settlements other survivors have gotten
The law
Contact a Baltimore Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorney Today!

If you or a loved one has been a victim of clergy sexual abuse in Baltimore, you deserve justice. A skilled Baltimore clergy sexual abuse attorney from Injury Lawyer Team can guide you through the legal process, helping you file a claim and seek the compensation you deserve. Our law firm offers free consultations, so you can discuss your case and understand your legal options.

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All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.