Newark Clergy Abuse Lawyer

Helping Victims of Child Sexual Abuse in New Jersey

Credible allegations of child sexual abuse have impacted New Jersey’s Catholic clergy scene, with reports of abuse and cover-ups spanning decades. Each of the state’s Catholic dioceses was named in a large-scale investigation, including abusers with ties to Newark. A Newark clergy abuse lawyer can help you learn more about your legal options.

The investigation laid the foundation for victims from other religious institutions to come forward. Injury Lawyer Team offers victims the dedicated support they need. We support child sexual abuse survivors in their fight for justice.

Settlements Recovered by Our Newark Clergy Abuse Lawyers

$1,500,000 Recovery for a 55-year-old man against a deceased priest.
$1,222,000 Abuse lawsuit settlement for an adult man who was sexually assaulted while attending a church-sponsored summer camp.
$14,200,000 Recovery for six young men who were groomed and fondled by a priest at a religious school. The priest was hired at the school despite a known record of abuse at other parishes.
$3,000,000 Settlement for a man 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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Why Choose Injury Lawyer Team

The team of sexual abuse lawyers at Injury Lawyer Team has a proven track record of helping victims hold their abusers accountable. With expert-level state knowledge and a desire to help abuse victims heal, our team has the skills and knowledge needed for a positive outcome.

Our law firm will be with you each step of the way. We aim to guide you through the legal process while offering support and compassion, hopefully assisting you toward financial and psychological recovery. We’re committed to bringing light to every case against the Newark Archdiocese.

Prevalence of Catholic Clergy Sex Abuse in the Archdiocese of Newark

Sexual abuse is far too common throughout religious institutions. This includes abuse in the Archdiocese of Newark, where there were many cases against the Archdiocese of Newark. Here are a few statistics to know:

Over 820 lawsuits were filed against New Jersey clergy in the two-year lookback period starting Dec. 1, 2019. This period has already ended.
Of these lawsuits, 62.2% were against a cleric or religious institution, with many instances of the Newark Archdiocese covering up reported child abuse.
The Diocese of Newark has failed to update its list of accused Catholic clergy, likely leading to a much higher number of occurrences.
63 Catholic clergy from the Archdiocese of Newark were included on the list of credibly accused offenders.

Are There Notable Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases and Accused Catholic Priests?

Here are some of the most notable clergy sexual abuse cases in the Newark area:

Cardinal McCarrick: McCarrick is among the most notable child sexual abuse cases in Newark. McCarrick has been at the center of multiple lawsuits after allegations arose in the 1980s.
The Archdiocese of Newark: Even before the widespread investigation of child sex abuse in the church, the Archdiocese of Newark settled a $1M case involving ten victims.
Peter Leo Gerety: Gerety was accused of sexually abusing a young girl in the 1970s and 1980s after she reached out to him for family help.
Joseph P. Rice: Rice was credibly accused of sexual abuse of a teenage girl. Despite the church finding the allegations of sexual abuse credible, no criminal or civil actions were taken.

What are the Common Forms of Sexual Misconduct Perpetrated by Catholic Church Clergy Members?

Sexual misconduct occurs among clergy members in various ways, including the following:

Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment includes verbal or physical behaviors that are sexual.
Sexual Exploitation: Sexual exploitation involves using or selling a person’s body for financial gain.
Sexual Comments or Communications: Inappropriate comments or texts with a minor or nonconsensual person are misconduct.
Sexual Assault: Sexual assault involves physically touching another person without their consent or a child.

What is the Profile of Clergy Sex Abuse Victims?

Abusive clergy members typically target victims over whom they have power or influence. Victims of childhood sexual abuse may suffer from physical pains, pregnancy, STDs, and psychological trauma.

A few common signs that a child has or is being sexually abused include the following:

Sexual themes in daily conversations, stories, plays, or drawings
Injury to harder-to-access bodily parts
Behavioral changes, such as academic difficulties or mood changes
Sudden fear of adults or church leaders

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Eligibility to File a Civil Lawsuit

New Jersey law allows those who have been sexually abused to file a civil lawsuit for financial compensation. A parent can file a lawsuit against the perpetrator on behalf of their child. Adult victims who are sexually abused in the church can file lawsuits.

Adult survivors who were sexually abused as children in the Newark Archdiocese may still have civil lawsuit options available, depending on the circumstances of the abuse.

Liability in Clergy Abuse Cases

Civil lawsuits seek to recover compensation from the responsible party, which may include an individual (a priest, pastor, volunteer, or other clergy member) or an institution (the Newark Archdiocese or another religious order).

Individuals may face criminal charges or civil lawsuits. Institutional liability aims to hold religious institutions responsible for failing to complete background checks when hiring, a lack of supervision of clergy members, or not reporting credible claims of sexual abuse.

It’s crucial to work with an experienced legal team when building a case to prove the connection between the church’s negligence and the sexual abuse endured.

The Statute of Limitations for Filing Lawsuits in Newark

New Jersey sexual abuse victims have a limited time to file a civil lawsuit against the New Jersey Catholic Diocese for sexual abuse. The Victims’ Rights Bill, an updated New Jersey law, now gives sexual abuse victims until their 55th birthday or within seven years of discovery of harm to file a civil suit against the abuser.

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Types of Cases Handled by Our Newark Clergy Abuse Lawyers

Our law firm has a proven track record in handling cases. We help survivors seek justice from individual leaders or institutions while staying within the state’s statute of limitations. We also have the knowledge and experience necessary to represent victims affected by religious organizations other than Roman Catholic dioceses.

The Newark Archdiocese isn’t the only church in New Jersey guilty of childhood sexual abuse. We handle cases in Trenton, Paterson, and Metuchen.

Survivors of sexual abuse should complete the following steps:

Seek medical care and prioritize personal safety. Document the sexual abuse, including photographs, police reports, letters, or texts. Schedule a free, confidential consultation to learn more about your legal options. Consider seeking support from the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault or the YWCA of North Jersey.

How Our Newark Clergy Abuse Attorneys Can Help

The Injury Lawyer Team offers Newark victims the compassionate support they need and deserve during this difficult time. A free and confidential consultation lets us learn more about each other and explore your legal options. Our team will then investigate your case and collect any available evidence.

We then file lawsuits in accordance with the legal strategy we agreed on together. Legal settlements are typical. However, our primary goal at Injury Lawyer Team is to help survivors, so we’re prepared to take your case to trial if you don’t receive a fair settlement offer.

The Cost of Hiring a Newark Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Money should not stop survivors of sexual abuse from filing a claim. Our law firm charges using a contingency fee, meaning you never owe anything unless we successfully recover money on your behalf.

Those who survived sexual abuse may be left with financial and emotional consequences, regardless of how long ago it happened. Victims are often entitled to money for medical expenses, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.

Each case is different, and the amount of money available depends on many factors, including when the abuse occurred and how it impacted your physical and emotional well-being. It also matters whether you’re within the state’s time limits.

If you or someone you love has been affected by sexual abuse by clergy in Newark, Injury Lawyer Team is here to help. Abuse within Catholic churches or by Catholic priests can have long-lasting impacts, and our dedicated legal counsel can help you hold the responsible parties accountable.

Call us at (888) 424-5757 or fill out our online form.

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.