Scottsdale Clergy Abuse Lawyer

Helping Clergy Abuse Victims and Holding Institutions Accountable

Clergy sexual abuse survivors carry the impacts of their abuse for life, while their abusers are often never fully held accountable for their actions. Scottsdale clergy sexual abuse attorneys can help you learn more about the legal system and get compensation.

Our team works with the victims of child sex abuse in Scottsdale, Arizona, to seek justice from the local dioceses, the Catholic church, and other religious organizations that perpetuate abuse through negligence and cover-ups, holding these organizations accountable for clergy abuse.

Whether you suffered from child sexual abuse or you were abused as an adult, Injury Lawyer Team are ready to hear your story and work with you for justice through a civil suit. Our law firm can hold religious leaders accountable for sexual misconduct.

At our law firm, Injury Lawyer Team, we are committed to securing justice and compensation for victims of clergy abuse in Scottsdale. Our experienced legal team has a proven track record of handling abuse cases with sensitivity and achieving significant settlements and verdicts.

Our Scottsdale abuse lawyers meticulously investigate every detail of your case to ensure all aspects of the abuse, including emotional trauma and other damages, are fully addressed. Our deep expertise in Arizona clergy abuse law enables us to navigate these complex cases effectively and fight tirelessly to protect your rights, and we will also provide you with the support you need.

Settlements Recovered by Our Scottsdale Clergy Abuse Attorneys

$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.
$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.
$2,800,000 Settlement for abuse that occurred at a summer camp operated by church officials.
$1,101,000 Settlement for a woman who was sexually assaulted by a janitor at a Catholic School as a minor.

Book a free consultation

Understanding Clergy Sexual Abuse

Clergy sexual abuse refers to sexual activities committed by a member of the church against another person, usually someone who is part of their congregation. This abuse happens to both children and adults, often taking place over a long period rather than as a one-time incident.

What’s the Prevalence of Clergy Sex Abuse in Scottsdale?

Abuse statistics in Scottsdale are usually related to priests from the three major Dioceses in Arizona: Phoenix, Tucson, and Gallup Dioceses. Here are the numbers we know from these areas:

The Diocese of Gallup lists 34 credibly accused priests who have served in their area.
There are 42 accused priests from the Diocese of Tucson.
The Diocese of Phoenix lists 18 accused priests and deacons, as well as 28 priests from religious communities.

The number of abusive clerical members may be higher because of a lack of reporting. There are likely multiple counts that never get reported, and many abusers that never face legal action. Our abuse lawyers can help you fight these injustices.

Notable Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases

Priests who are accused of sexual abuse with credible accusations are named by their Diocese, local news agencies, and other credible sources. Here are three examples of notable accused church members:

Lious Ladenburger: Convicted of sexual abuse of minors in both Arizona and Idaho.
Paul Lebrun: Convicted of multiple counts of molestation. Incarcerated since 2003.
Bede McKinnon: Accused of abuse in 2010. Currently deceased.

Many priests serving in and near Scottsdale, Arizona, have been accused of abuse. Previous cases help build evidence if you’ve experienced abuse from a named person. Abuse lawyers can use this information to help your case.

Let’s discuss the specifics of your case

Common Forms of Clergy Abuse

These are the most common types of abuse that have taken place in the Catholic Church and other religious institutions:

Inappropriate touching: Any touching of genital areas, over or under clothing. It also includes uncomfortable hugging, kissing, cuddling, or other inappropriate touches.
Removing clothes: Making someone remove their clothes, or having a church member remove clothes around them.
Sexualizing conversations: Asking inappropriate questions, making sexual statements, dirty talk, flirtatious talk, and other intentional sexualization of conversations.
Showing pornography: Watching pornographic materials together, showing pornography, providing access to pornography, or any other use of pornographic materials with a minor.
Performing sexual acts without consent: Any type of sexual act, whether performed alone around a victim, done to or with a victim, or having the victim do the act to them. Any sexual action with a minor is always considered sex abuse.
Taking sexual pictures or videos: Forcing them to take sexual images or videos, either alone or with the perpetrator. However, abuse lawyers can use them as evidence. Victims often experience multiple forms of abuse over an extended period.

The Profile of Clergy Sex Abuse Victims

Victims who are most often sexually abused are boys aged 11-17. Abuse may begin at this age and continue for years, leading to long-term trauma for the victim. Adult women are the second most likely to be targeted by abusive priests.

Those who experience sexual abuse often exhibit signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or shame, as well as a distrust of authority figures and doubt surrounding core beliefs.

Common Signs of Clergy Abuse Among Child Victims

Because young people are the most likely targets of clergy abuse, it’s important to recognize the signs of child sex abuse. These are the most common physical and behavioral signs of abuse to look out for.

Physical signs:

Dirty, damaged, or bloody undergarments
Discomfort around the genital area, such as pain, itching, or burning
Blood, bruising, or swelling around the genitals
Pain walking or sitting down
Higher frequency of UTIs or yeast infections

Behavioral signs:

Depression
Poor performance at school, with school work, attendance, or both
PTSD
Bedwetting or regular nightmares
Suicidal thoughts
Becoming overly protective of younger siblings
Regressing to previous childhood behaviors, such as sucking a thumb
Developing new phobias
Shrinking from physical contact, even by loved ones
Running away from school or home
Self-harm
Showering excessively or refusing to shower

These signs do not always indicate sexual abuse, but if you find these signs in your child, you may want to investigate the possibility.

Consult a clergy abuse lawyer

Eligibility to File a Clergy Abuse Claim

After sexual abuse occurs, victims can file a civil lawsuit to seek compensation. Someone with a direct interest in the case must file the lawsuit. This includes:

Child sex abuse victims
Parents of child victims
Adults who were sexually assaulted
Adult survivors who were assaulted when they were children

Two types of liability usually apply in clergy assault cases.

First, the individual liability of the assailant. Clergy abusers are directly liable for their actions and the sexual violence they inflict on victims. Civil lawsuits can be filed against members who are guilty of clergy abuse.

In Scottsdale and across Arizona, a religious institution can be held liable for a clergy member’s actions through vicarious liability, also known as institutional liability, under the statute of limitations.

These legal theories allow organizations to be held liable for the abusive actions of a clergy member under their supervision if there’s any action taken to cover up abuse or inaction when abuse is made known.

Examples of these circumstances can be seen in investigations into the Catholic Church.

The local Dioceses were held liable when men were moved to a new parish after allegations of sexual assault, when they were hired despite having a record of abuse, when abuse allegations were not reported, or when they were not supervised appropriately and were able to commit abuse in their roles.

There must be a connection between the clergy abuse and some failure of the religious organization to hold the institution liable. It’s often easier to show the connection when there are previous records of abuse within the same institution or repeat offenses from the same clergy member.

The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Lawsuit in Scottsdale, AZ

Victims of sexual assault must file a civil suit against the perpetrators within the statute of limitations. In Scottsdale, victims who suffered sexual abuse and were assaulted as adults must file within two years of the abuse, but minors who are assaulted have until their 30th birthday to file. The statute of limitations for sexual abuse was modified in 2020.

Take legal action today

Types of Cases Handled by Our Scottsdale Clergy Sexual Abuse Law Firm

At Injury Lawyer Team, we help sexual abuse survivors go through the legal process to seek compensation from their abusers. Our team handles civil lawsuits against Catholic church priests, pastors, teachers, and clergy members from any religious institution.

Abuse happens in all types of congregations. No matter which religious organization created the circumstances for your sexual abuse, we’ll help you seek justice and get the compensation you deserve for what you endured due to clergy abuse.

Our experienced team can take on cases against any religious institution operating in Scottsdale, Arizona, including the Diocese of Phoenix or Tucson.

If you’ve been a victim of sexual abuse, you first need to ensure you get to a safe place away from your abuser. When you’re physically safe, start working towards documenting the abuse that’s happened to you.

Documenting abuse can help you win your case and receive compensation. Although it’s difficult to think about it, any evidence you can save will be helpful in the future.

Write down details of what happened and when it happened, save or screenshot any electronic communications, and go to a doctor who can help you record medical evidence of abuse.

Speak with reliable legal counsel as soon as possible to get advice on how to build your case. We’ll work with you to prepare for the legal process and take the proper steps to achieve the best result.

Seek support from a local organization in Scottsdale, Arizona. You can reach out to the national sexual abuse hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or contact another local organization like the AZ Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence or La Frontera EMPACT SPC.

These groups can be instrumental in providing emotional and physical support and advice on how to move forward.

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

At Injury Lawyer Team, we work with sexual abuse survivors to take control of their case against their abuser and get justice. The first step is always a consultation, so we can understand your circumstances and plan a course of action with you.

After the consultation, we’ll work tirelessly to investigate your case and collect all the evidence to support your claims. Once everything is together, we’ll file the civil lawsuit and represent you against your abusers.

Most lawsuits are settled out of court. Both parties negotiate and agree on the settlement. However, if it goes to court, we will be your representatives fighting for a positive outcome at the trial.

The Cost of Hiring Our Scottsdale Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Our firm works on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay anything out of pocket to work with us. We only get paid if we help you win. If a settlement is reached or a court awards payment, we receive a percentage, with the majority going straight into your pocket.

You won’t have to pay a thing out of pocket to work with our experienced team of abuse lawyers. A win for you is also a win for us.

Compensation for Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims

Clergy sexual abuse survivors who win a settlement or a court-ordered payment can receive various types of compensation from abusers that they truly deserve . In addition to these compensatory aspects, there may also be criminal charges depending on the nature of the abuse.

Depending on your age, when you were abused, the extent of the assault, and the circumstances that allowed the abuse to continue, compensation can vary and greatly impact your future . Even though nothing can repay the pain and suffering from harm caused by abuse, many survivors know that we’ll work hard on your behalf to get the most compensation possible.

Contact Us for a Free Case Review

Work with Injury Lawyer Team to start the legal process of seeking justice and compensation from your abusers by scheduling a free case review . Our team will fight to walk you through every step, helping you build your case from scratch and guiding you through to settlement. We’re ready to work with you to help you find peace and resolution regarding your sexual abuse case.

Call us at (888) 424-5757 or fill in our contact 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.