Reading Clergy Abuse Lawyer

Helping Catholic Church Abuse Victims Get Justice

Pennsylvania churchgoers have come forward with credible sexual abuse allegations claiming such abuse from many of the state’s Catholic priests. Children in Reading, Pennsylvania, have experienced decades of trauma in the Catholic diocese as well as other religious institutions. Survivors need a Reading clergy abuse lawyer to help them fight against predatory church officials.

Injury Lawyer Team is here to hold abusive priests and church officials accountable, help sexual abuse survivors access the resources they need to heal, and serve justice, including a free consultation.

Injury Lawyer Team has the expertise that child sexual abuse victims need to navigate the state’s legal system and secure maximum compensation. Our team of dedicated, compassionate lawyers is here to help, offering a sensitive yet professional approach.

Through civil litigation, our team can help connect victims with the resources they need to move on from the trauma of sexual abuse. We’re here to offer support and guidance each step of the way.

Settlements Recovered by Our Reading Clergy Abuse Lawyers

$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 sexual abuse at other parishes.
$3,000,000 Settlement for a man who suffered child sexual abuse. This case was settled during litigation, despite the church’s repeated attempts to dismiss it on the grounds of an expired statute of limitations.
$2,800,000 Settlement for sexual abuse that occurred at a summer camp operated by church officials.
$1,222,000 Lawsuit settlement for an adult man who was sexually assaulted while attending a church-sponsored summer camp.
$1,101,000 Settlement for a woman who was sexually assaulted by a janitor at a Catholic School as a child.

Book a free consultation

Prevalence of Sex Abuse in Reading

Abusers in the church may be more prevalent than you know. There are thousands of child sexual abuse reports annually. Here are a few abuse statistics about Reading, Pennsylvania:

Each year, Berks County receives over 5,000 reports of child abuse or neglect (This includes victims of various perpetrators).
The Grand Jury Report names various Reading, Pennsylvania, Catholic Schools and parishes, including Reading Central Catholic High School and St. Paul Parish.
More than 300 Catholic Church priests have been named as sexual predators throughout Pennsylvania, including 35 from the Diocese of Allentown.
The report included Catholic Church leaders from six Pennsylvania parishes, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, which covers Berks County.

Are There Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases, and Have Catholic Priests Been Found Guilty, in Reading?

Numerous priests have been accused of these crimes while serving in Reading, Pennsylvania, including the following:

Ann Marie Paul: Paul was accused of grooming and sexually abusing a Reading Central High School student. However, no sexual abuse charges were filed.
Joseph A. Zmijewski: Zmijewski was accused of sexually abusing a young woman in 1950 when she was a student at St. Peter’s in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Gabriel M Patil: Patil settled a case outside of court involving the sexual abuse of an eight-year-old altar boy.
Joseph A. Rock: Rock settled a claim outside of court involving the sexual abuse of two elderly residents and minors. These actions occurred from 1979 to 1981 but weren’t listed until the 2018 Jury Report.

What Are Common Forms of Sexual Misconduct Perpetrated by Clergy Members?

Clergy sexual abuse may include any of the following:

Non-Consensual Sexual Activity: Such abuse includes non-consensual sexual activity or any sexual interaction with a minor.
Inappropriate Text Messages: Inappropriate text messages, emails, or letters may be considered sexual misconduct.
Inappropriate Photographs: Sexual photographs or pornography are regarded as sexual misconduct.
Sexual Harassment: This includes verbal, physical, or other forms of offensive behavior.
Indecent Exposure: This involves showing sexual parts in a public place.

What Are the Signs of Clergy Sexual Abuse Among Children?

Sexual abuse victims often have various symptoms. Such abuse may result in:

Sleep disruptions
Sexual expressions during playtime, drawings, or songs
Anger or irritability
Bedwetting
Mood changes
Unexplained fears
Avoidance of priests or other abusers

If you were the victim of clergy sexual abuse in Reading, Pennsylvania, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit, including compensation for medical bills. Parents can file a child sexual abuse lawsuit against the perpetrator on behalf of their minor child. An adult victim may also seek compensation after being sexually abused by priests.

Adult survivors, including many victims who priests abused as minors, may be eligible to file a claim, but doing so depends on the case’s details.

Childhood sexual abuse claims may be against an individual party, such as religious leaders, church officials, or Catholic priests.

Child survivors may also file a claim against the institution under vicarious liability. When child sexual abuse occurs in the church as a result of poor hiring, a lack of supervision, or a failure to report abuse, the Catholic Church institution itself may be financially liable.

To hold religious organizations liable, there must be a clear connection between the incident and the negligence of the church leadership.

Explore your legal options

The Statute of Limitations for Civil Lawsuits in Reading

Victims who suffered abuse as an adult have a short period to come forward and file a civil lawsuit, also known as the statute of limitations. Currently, Pennsylvania law allows adult survivors up to two years from the date of the incident to file a claim.

However, in an attempt to better protect survivors, new legislation extends this time limit for survivors of child sexual abuse.

Time limits to file a claim depend on your age at the time of the sexual abuse. Minors will have up to their 55th birthday to file a claim. Young adults between 18-23 will have until their 30th birthday to file a claim. However, this new law applies only to cases that happened after January 1, 2019.

Types of Cases Handled by Our Reading Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Injury Lawyer Team handles abuse cases of all types, including those against priests, pastors, and other religious leaders. This includes representing adult or child sexual abuse survivors.

Our experienced sexual abuse attorneys can also seek compensation from different religious institutions, including Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, or Episcopal. We handle cases involving clergy sexual abuse from the Philadelphia Archdiocese, the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, the Diocese of Erie, and any other religious organization.

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse should take the following steps:

Get help and report the sexual abuse
Collect available evidence, including any documentation of cover-ups by church members
Consider seeking justice through civil action
Get support through resources like the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) or Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA)
Contact our law firm toll-free

How Our Reading Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Help

Injury Lawyer Team helps clergy sexual abuse victims get justice. If you are a victim, consider contacting our law firm to explore your legal options. A free initial consultation and case evaluation allow us to learn more about you.

Our law firm will conduct a thorough investigation and begin collecting evidence to support your sexual abuse claim. We’ll make sure we have the necessary evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the traumatic event occurred.

This may include documents regarding cover-ups to prove the church knew. It can also involve interviewing other victims to build a solid case.

Then, we’ll file your case in the appropriate Pennsylvania court. Filing a lawsuit can lead to a settlement offer. However, if you don’t receive a fair settlement offer, our team is ready to explore other legal options, including representing you at trial before a grand jury.

The Cost of Hiring a Reading Abuse Attorney

Injury Lawyer Team is dedicated to helping clergy sexual abuse survivors secure financial compensation. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis: victims never pay anything unless our team wins your case.

We file claims to help seek justice and recover compensation for the victims of clergy sexual abuse. Many sexual abuse survivors can benefit from compensation covering medical expenses, emotional distress, punitive damages, trauma counseling, and other costs.

How much you can recover in a case against priests depends on factors such as when the sexual assault occurred, whether it’s still within the state’s statute of limitations, and how much evidence is available. It also depends on who’s held liable for the sexual abuse committed, such as an individual or a large religious institution.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one has been a victim of child sexual abuse by priests in Reading, it’s important to know your rights and seek justice. You deserve legal counsel that can help hold those responsible for sexual abuse accountable and recover compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional trauma.

Injury Lawyer Team is here to provide the experienced legal representation you need, guiding you through the legal process and fighting to secure the justice and compensation you deserve.

Call us at 866-757-6452 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.