Chicago Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Child sexual abuse is unthinkable for most people. Unfortunately, this tragic event happens all too often right here in Chicago. Perhaps even more tragically, many of these terrible abuses take place in churches and are perpetrated by some of the most trusted members of the clergy.
In 2014, a series of records released by the Archdiocese of Chicago included tens of thousands of pages about allegations against priests and a decades-long trend of concealment of clergy child sexual abuse in the Church.
In light of these horrible crimes, the clergy child sexual abuse lawyers at Lane Brown, LLC have set out to help victims recover the financial compensation needed to pay for physical and mental recovery.
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- Why Lane Brown Seeks Justice for Victims of Clergy Child Sex Abuse
- Legal Options for Priest Child Sexual Abuse Survivors
- How a Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Attorney Can Help
- Damages That Can Be Recovered During a Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Case
- What To Expect During Your Case
- Why Choose Our Law Firm
- Clergy Child Sexual Abuse FAQ
Why Lane Brown Seeks Justice for Victims of Clergy Child Sex Abuse
For far too long, religious institutions have hidden instances of child sexual abuse committed by priests, pastors, and other clergy members. This intense secrecy has misled victims into believing that they were alone, in the wrong, or simply mistaken about the crimes committed against them.
Today, reports like the one published by the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2014 have laid the truth bare and opened the door for criminal cases against serial abusers in the Church. However, these criminal charges do little to help mitigate the suffering faced by victims.
At Lane Brown, LLC, our clergy child sexual abuse lawyers fight on behalf of victims. With our help, you can recover financial compensation from the person who abused you and even from the institution that covered up the abuse. We make this possible by filing civil lawsuits on your behalf. Plus, you won’t have to pay anything until we win your case or reach a settlement.
We Hold Abusers and Institutions Accountable
Legal Options for Priest Child Sexual Abuse Survivors
Unlike adult victims of sexual assault, child sexual abuse survivors may have no statute of limitations on their ability to file a claim based on changes to Illinois law made over time. The state of Illinois has now recognized the horrific nature of child sexual abuse and allow survivors to sue their abuser at any point for the rest of their lives. Depending on the circumstances of the case, a statute of limitations may still apply. The child sexual abuse lawyers at Lane Brown, LLC will review the circumstances of your case and determine whether or not a statute of limitations applies.
Survivors of child sexual abuse can also choose to file a criminal case. While a criminal conviction typically doesn’t result in financial compensation, it can help strengthen your civil claim by proving that the abuses did indeed occur.
In many cases, it’s well worth filing a criminal claim and a civil claim. Doing so can help you get the compensation you deserve and can also bring the abuses to light, encouraging other victims to come forward and seek justice for themselves.
Understand Your Rights and Legal Options
How a Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Attorney Can Help
To file a claim against a religious institution, it’s best to enlist the help of a Chicago clergy child sexual abuse lawyer. These attorneys are well-versed in the ways that churches and other religious groups attempt to protect abusers in order to maintain their own images. The team at Lane Brown, LLC won’t allow that. Our attorneys will utilize every available tool, including going to trial, to ensure that these crimes are fully exposed.
In addition to our deep understanding of the ways religious institutions cover up instances of abuse, our attorneys recognize how difficult these cases can be for victims. Even if the abuse took place decades ago, unearthing the trauma associated with the abuse is often disturbing and unsettling for victims. Our lawyers will compassionately work on your case, minimizing your distress and doing everything possible to settle your claim out of court and away from the person who abused you.
Damages That Can Be Recovered During a Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Case
During your case, our clergy child sexual abuse lawyers will investigate medical records, personal histories, and witnesses and work with experts to prove your side of the story. Then, we may seek compensation for the following on your behalf:
- Medical expenses – Your settlement or court-ordered compensation should cover the cost of your medical bills. If you were hospitalized as a result of the abuse or received any form of medical treatment, expect to see that amount included in your total compensation.
- Costly psychological and emotional therapy – The cost of therapy adds up, especially if you need it for the rest of your life. A good clergy child sexual abuse lawyer should understand the financial burden of mental health services and fight to have those costs covered by your settlement.
- Emotional distress – Victims of abuse often live with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), fear of people or churches, nightmares and night terrors, and emotional outbursts. These impacts can be added to the compensation you receive.
- Diminished quality of life – Sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted person, like a priest, can forever change a child who was otherwise happy and healthy. The lifelong depression, emotional suffering, and social stigma of being an abuse victim can and should be considered during settlement negotiations.
- Punitive damages – Child sexual abuse is widely accepted to be one of the most heinous acts a person can commit. As such, victims may be able to receive additional compensation in the form of punitive damages. These costly damages are intended to discourage other people from ever committing these atrocious acts.
Our clergy child sexual abuse lawyers understand that no amount of compensation will ever undo the violation of sexual abuse. However, restitution can help victims avoid unnecessary financial distress, and it punishes organizations, like the Catholic Church, that actively enable abuse.
We Will Fight for Just Compensation
What To Expect During Your Case
Once you’ve enlisted the help of a church sexual abuse lawyer, your legal case begins in earnest. Typically, your claim will go through most of the following steps, with some flexibility if it goes to court or settles before trial:
- Reporting the abuse: Your attorney will help you report the abuse to the relevant authorities if there has not already been a criminal case.
- Investigation and evidence gathering: Before filing a claim, your lawyer will work to gather as much evidence as possible. This could include gathering text records, emails, personal statements, and physical evidence.
- Filing a lawsuit or claim: After your attorney gathers sufficient evidence, they will file a claim, and perhaps a formal lawsuit, against the abuser or the religious institution they work for, such as the Diocese of Chicago.
- Negotiation and Settlement: Most cases are resolved without going to trial, especially if there has already been a criminal conviction against the abuser. In fact, many cases are resolved before a lawsuit is filed. This is often faster than going into litigation and trial.
- Trial (if necessary): If the abuser or the institution they work for refuses to reach a fair settlement, the case proceeds to trial. During the trial, the same evidence that was used in the negotiation process, plus witness testimony, is presented to a judge or jury. After evidence and arguments are presented, the court or a jury, will determine a fair amount of compensation and order the abuser to pay it.
Why Choose Our Law Firm
At Lane Brown, LLC, our clergy child sexual abuse lawyers have extensive experience working with victims of abuse in Illinois. In 2014, we carried out a major claim against the Chicago Archdiocese and were one of the first law firms to do so. No firm in the area is more experienced in this type of representation, so you can count on us to fight for your best interests while treating you with understanding and compassion.
Compassionate Legal Support in Chicago and Throughout Illinois
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- Evanston
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Contact an Experienced Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer
If the unthinkable has happened to you or someone you love, you don’t have to be silent. Speak to one of our experienced, compassionate, and discreet clergy child sex abuse lawyers today at 312-332-1400. Our team is available 24/7, nights, and weekends to hear your case. If you’d prefer not to call, you can fill out the form on this page to schedule a confidential, free consultation to discuss your situation. The victim’s comfort is our priority so if travel to our office isn’t possible, we can come to you.
Clergy Child Sexual Abuse FAQ
How can you sue a Catholic priest for child sexual abuse?
To sue a Catholic priest for this horrible crime, you need to enlist the help of a clergy child sexual abuse lawyer. Anyone who was abused by a priest while they were a child, or who is the parent of an abused child, has the right to seek compensation from the priest or the Chicago Archdiocese.
After you hire them, your church sexual abuse lawyer will begin to gather evidence. Usually, this involves a sit-down interview with you that will be treated as your personal statement about the abuse you experienced. When the attorney has that statement in hand, they’ll look for text exchanges, physical evidence, emails, and anything else that could implicate your abuser.
Once all the evidence has been gathered, your attorney will proceed with filing your claim. At this point, they’ll also send over a demand letter to your abuser or their employer. This letter lists out all the damages you’ve suffered, along with an amount that your lawyer feels is fair compensation. Using this demand letter as a starting point, negotiations between your legal team and your abuser’s team begin in earnest.
In most cases, the clergy child sexual abuse lawyer you’ve hired will continue to negotiate with your abuser’s legal team until an agreement is reached. If this happens, you’ll receive your compensation, minus the amount that goes to your lawyer, without filing a lawsuit. However, when a settlement cannot be reached, filing a lawsuit is the next step.
If your case goes to into litigation, the evidence-gathering process continues, and your lawyer will see if anything was missed during their initial research phase. Your attorney will present this evidence, plus your own personal statements, to a judge or a jury at trial, if the case doesn’t settle prior to trial. After hearing all the arguments and reviewing the evidence, the judge or jury will render a verdict and may order your abuser to pay you an amount that the judge or jury feels is appropriate.
Here is a step-by-step guide outlining how to sue a Catholic priest for child sexual abuse:
- Find a trusted clergy child sexual abuse attorney in Chicago, such as the ones at Lane Brown, LLC.
- Schedule a confidential consultation with your chosen lawyer to explain your case. The lawyer will then determine if you have a viable case.
- With the help of your lawyer, report the abuse to the police or another appropriate authority.
- Have your attorney gather evidence, including your personal statements and any correspondence between you and your abuser.
- Work with your attorney to identify the responsible party. Child sexual abuse that takes place at a church can make the church or the overseeing body (such as the Archdiocese of Chicago) liable.
- After gathering evidence, your attorney will contact the responsible party to discuss a potential settlement, and if no settlement can be reached, file a lawsuit against the liable party.
- Wait while your lawyer negotiates with the liable party. In most cases, the process ends at this step when both sides reach an agreement.
- If necessary, your case may proceed to trial. This only happens when neither side is satisfied with a settlement offer from the other party.
- Once the trial starts, follow all of your attorney’s instructions and appear in court as needed.
- Wait for the judge and jury to hear all of the arguments from both your side and your abuser’s.
- Listen for the final verdict handed down by the judge or jury. If your claim is successful, the judge or jury will determine an appropriate amount of compensation.
- Pay your attorney the agreed-upon percentage of your settlement.
