Maryville Academy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Compensation for Survivors of Sexual Abuse at Maryville Academy

Maryville Academy sexual abuse demonstrates the widespread nature of clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago. If you were sexually abused at this institution, Injury Lawyer Team can help you file Illinois clergy sexual abuse lawsuitsagainst the perpetrator, other priests, and Maryville Academy itself. Take the first step toward justice by contacting us for a free consultation. 

Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Maryville Academy, Des Plaines

Maryville Academy, located in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, was founded in 1883, when the Archdiocese of Chicago authorized it to care for orphaned and neglected boys. Archbishop Patrick A. Feehan established it on an 880-acre farm north of Des Plaines, where boys could learn a trade and prepare for adult life. In 1911, girls began to arrive, and the organization became co-educational.

Maryville Academy now offers 19 programs in four areas: family, residential, healthcare, and educational. The Des Plaines location is one of five centers, with the rest in Niles, Chicago, Berwyn, and Bartlett. 

While Maryville Academy still exists, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services stopped placing teensthere in 2016 and assisted in relocating children who were still there. Maryville Academy stated that this was due to budgetary concerns. 

However, new allegations about sexual misconduct at Maryville Academy, dated before DCFS stopped placements, have put this decision in a different light. Victims of sexual abuse are coming forward to share their stories of neglect, assault, and continued harassment. 

In the early 2000s, “grim headlines” emerged about the abuse of children at Maryville Academy. A 14-year-old child died by suicide and was found hanging in a shower, and an 11-year-old child was allegedly raped. 

Many of these accusations center around two individuals: Reverend David Ryan and Reverend John Smyth, who served as co-directors of Maryville Academy before it was shuttered. 

Reverend David Ryan

Reverend David Ryan, most recently serving as pastor for St. Francis de Sales in Lake Zurich, has been accused of sexually abusing minors in his care at least three times, including 30 years ago at Maryville Academy. Similarly, each time an accusation has surfaced, he has been removed and reinstated.

This is contrary to the Archdiocese’s own regulations, which include a “one-strike” rule as required by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. This rule requires that any priests with a substantiated allegation of sex abuse must be removed from service effective immediately. 

The timeline of investigations into Reverend Ryan demonstrates a concerted disinterest in a thorough investigation of serious allegations, leading to confused parishioners and frustrated victims.

The first report came in November 2020, when the Archdiocese of Chicago informed parishioners of Saint Francis de Sales that Ryan would be removed from ministry effective immediately due to allegations stemming from his time at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines. Ryan had served at Saint Francis de Sales since 2007.

Eleven months later, another letter was sent informing Saint Francis de Sales parishioners that an Independent Review Board had dismissed the sexual abuse complaints at Maryville Academy as baseless and that he would be reinstated immediately.

The week after, on September 16, 2021, there was another update: further details had emerged about Ryan’s abusive behavior at Maryville Academy. Instead of showing empathy toward the survivors, the letter expressed disappointment that they could not immediately welcome Ryan back.

He was then reinstated on November 20, 2021. Again, the letter did not show concern for the victims, instead stating, “Yet, I am aware that Father Ryan’s absence has been a source of pain for him, his family and all of you, his parishioners, for which I am deeply sorry. Please know how much I appreciate your patience and prayers as we completed this process.”

A year passed before the Archdiocese of Chicago was forced to address two new allegations, both concerning Father Ryan’s time at Maryville Academy. He was once again asked to step aside while the Independent Review Board completed an investigation.

He was reinstated for a third time on February 11, 2023. This letter took an accusatory tone toward the victims, stating, “After numerous attempts, those making the accusations have refused to cooperate with both civil and church investigations,” and claiming that the investigation was a “very unfair set of circumstances.”

On July 29, 2025, the Archdiocese of Chicago was once again forced to confront Father Ryan’s abusive past at Maryville Academy more than three decades prior, claiming it would review the case “with the presumption that one is innocent until proven otherwise.” However, this time, the victims filed a lawsuit, no longer content to let the church handle this matter internally. 

Victims accused Father Ryan of working in concert with Reverend Smyth, as the two were co-directors of Maryville Academy at the time of the abuse. One victim stated that Father Ryan made him feel “like a sex slave.” 

Reverend John Smyth

Reverend John Smyth died in 2019, but new allegations have emerged accusing him of rampant sexual abuse at Maryville Academy. 

During his time at the academy, Smyth was treated as a larger-than-life figure, revered by his parishioners. A 9-foot-tall statue of him playing with a child was installed at the Maryville Academy location in the 1990s, which now serves as a grim reminder of the man’s double life. When he passed, his funeral was well-attended, with many speaking of him as a savior of Maryville Academy and champion for the voiceless. 

In reality, Smyth and his co-conspirator, David Ryan, were repeatedly accused of abuse while the church delayed investigations and silenced victims. Shortly after his death, CBS conducted an investigation and found that numerous children had been sexually abused during his 30-year tenure at Maryville Academy.

One victim, nicknamed “Matt” by CBS Chicago, was sent to live at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, as his alcoholic parents were unable to care for him. Reverend Smyth would violently assault him, then offer him gifts like shoes or leave to go home.

Tragically, Matt was ignored when he reported the sexual abuse to his family and caseworker. Instead of reporting concerns to the police, his DCFS caseworker instead wrote that he “recently informed his parents of his homosexuality.”

Another victim, nicknamed “Mark” in the investigation, would be sodomized and then allowed to go on furlough home. When he went to the bathroom, there was blood in his stool. Mark reported the abuse to Maryville Academy. 

Instead of protecting the minor, the priests involved only said “That’s crazy” to his account and never investigated further. Mark still suffers from nightmares, struggles with interpersonal relationships, and has to attend therapy. 

Smyth had a pattern when selecting abuse victims. He mostly pursued young African-American boys who enjoyed basketball and were wards of the state. As Smyth himself was a star on the University of Notre-Dame basketball team and turned down an NBA draft pick to join the ministry, he would groom them by showing mutual interests and offering them gifts. 

Reverend Smyth himself seemed to dismiss the potential for abuse at Maryville Academy in the well-known Bernardin Report, commissioned by then-Cardinal Joseph Bernardin. At that time, he was 20 years into his tenure at Maryville Academy. 

Rather than discuss the concerns of child abuse, he complained about the lack of support provided to Church officials. Smyth stated that “some children can be seductive” and that “priests are vulnerable to false accusations.”

Father Smyth accuser, Clarence George, publicly accused the priest of sexually abusing him before Smyth died. However, DCFS, Maryville Academy, and the Archdiocese refused to investigate further and never interviewed Smyth about the allegations. Instead, these institutions saddled George and other victims with 23-page questionnaires, meant to discourage them from going forward with lawsuits. 

In March of 2018, two new allegations of sexual misconduct against Smyth forced Maryville Academy to act, alerting the Cook County State’s Attorney and DCFS. After a hushed investigation, Smyth was quietly placed on limited ministry before being removed in December 2018. 

DCFS received these sexual misconduct reports in March 2018, but refused to start its own investigation for 10 months. It was only after his death that they completed their investigation, claiming that because Smyth was dead, he no longer posed a threat to children. 

By 2021, 20 survivors of sex abuse at Maryville Academy had come forward, filing civil lawsuits against the institution. The Archdiocese of Chicago settled at least four of these cases with confidential six-figure settlements. 

However, there may be hundreds of vulnerable minors who were sexually abused at Maryville Academy throughout Smyth’s time at Maryville Academy, some of whom may never have come forward or pursued legal action. 

What Damages Can Sexually Assaulted Victims Recover in Chicago?

Injury Lawyer Team will pursue all possible damages in a Maryville Academy clergy sexual abuse lawsuit. Some of these damages can include:

• Medical expenses
• Therapy and behavioral health treatment
• Loss of future income
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of normal life

In a civil lawsuit, juries can award punitive damages intended to punish abusive institutions or individuals. These are not awarded in every case and may be subject to different taxation requirements than compensatory damages. 

How Long Do Victims Have to Come Forward and Take Legal Action in Illinois?

Both criminal and civil lawsuits for sex abuse have extended statutes of limitations, meant to help survivors come forward even if the sexual misconduct happened decades prior. There is no statute of limitations for criminal sex abuse of a victim under the age of 18 (720 ILCS 5/3-6(j)). 

Illinois also eliminated statutes of limitations for civil cases involving the abuse of children (735 ILCS 5/13-202.2). This means that if you were abused by David Ryan, Reverend Smyth, or any other staff member at Maryville Academy decades ago, you can still pursue justice through a civil trial.

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in Hobert v. Covenant Children’s Home that the extended statute of limitations also extends to institutions that were vicariously liable for abuse, such as Maryville Academy or the Catholic Church. 

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

Our attorneys know how frightening it is to come forward with allegations of sexual assault or mistreatment, even if the abuser has passed away. We offer trauma-informed legal advocacy, meant to help you explore your legal options and empower you to share your story. 

These cases can be challenging not only because of the severe psychological toll that abuse takes on children, but also because many survivors do not make allegations until years or decades later. Maryville Academy’s records may have been damaged, and key witnesses may have moved or passed away.

However, our lawyers are adept at investigation, negotiation, and trial representation. We are members of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice, committed to getting justice for every victim.

Our team will thoroughly explore your allegations and subpoena Maryville Academy for institutional records, witness statements, and private communications. Additionally, we will track down witnesses, such as other children who may have seen the abuse or staff members who handled internal reports about concerns. 

As members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, our legal firm is highly skilled at negotiations with abusive and neglectful institutions. We have secured over $450 million for clients across the past 25 years, ensuring that every allegation is investigated and victims receive fair settlements.

Many of these cases settle out of court. However, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial, ensuring you have the best possible chance of earning compensation. We understand how daunting it can be to go to court and will guide you through every step of the process. 

Book a Free Consultation to Explore Your Legal Options

Injury Lawyer Team works on a contingency fee basis, meaning that our legal fees are deducted from your settlement. There is no upfront cost to taking legal action against abusive organizations like Maryville Academy or the Catholic Church.

Take the first step toward healing by scheduling a free consultation about sex abuse lawsuits. We are available 24/7 to guide you through your legal rights.