Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorney

Sexual abuse is a very traumatic experience, and not only will a victim have physical injuries, but they may also deal with the pain and suffering of emotional trauma for the rest of their life. We understand how difficult it can be to come forward and talk to one of our attorneys. Our attorneys have confidential free consultations where we are open to listening to all aspects of your potential clergy abuse lawsuit.

We know that there is no dollar amount that we could equate to for the trauma that you have experienced. But, the least we can do is hold those abusers financially responsible for what you have gone through.

Despite the fact that members of the clergy had a no-abuse policy enacted 15 years ago, abuse is still sadly prevalent throughout various different churches, including the Catholic church. In fact, around 69% admit that abuse by Catholic clergy is an ongoing problem in a study conducted by PEW research center. 

Seek justice against those who have done you wrong, and contact our clergy abuse attorneys Heidari law today for more information. If you or someone you know has been a survivor of sexual abuse by a clergy member, contact us today to see the legal remedies you could take charge of to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Clergy Abuse In California Statistics

In a single year, there were around 800 reported clergy sexual abuse instances in the state of California. But, several researchers have said that this is just the reported amount. There are several hundreds of unreported sexual abuse instances were the victims have been afraid of coming forward.

What is clergy abuse?

Clergy abuse occurs when religious members from all types of churches, including the Catholic church, Protestant church, Mormons, and several other churches, abuse members of society. Recently, there have been numerous worldwide scandals involving clergy members who have abused minors throughout various different churches.

Psychological Effects Of Clergy Sexual Abuse

Clergy sexual abuse not only has physical effects and injuries, but psychological effects are tremendous. Examples of the psychological effects sexual abuse could include:

• Anger
• Difficulty sleeping
• Anorexia
• Nervousness
• Behavioral issues
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Body image issues
• Developmental issues
• Self-destructive Behavior
• Distrusting others around
• Fear
• Grief
• Anxiety
• Guilt
• Shock
• Socially isolating themselves from others
• Strain in spousal relationships
• Strain in friend relationships
• Poor self-esteem
• Violence
• Assault 
• Pregnancy
• Dissatisfaction

Above are just some examples of the psychological disorders that could result from clergy sexual abuse. This is especially more common in minors.

How can our Heidari Law clergy sexual abuse lawyers help you?

• Sometimes, it can be very difficult to prove clergy sexual abuse, especially if the abuse occurred several years ago. Our attorneys will investigate the circumstances of the abuse to determine what the best steps are to gather all the relevant pieces of evidence to prove your claim.
• We provide compassionate representation and have confidential consultations to make sure we have as much information as we can from you to build your strong case.
• We negotiate with attorneys to make sure that all your damages have been represented.
• In the event that your case goes to trial, we fight in trial to hold the abusers responsible for their actions.

When do I file my clergy sexual abuse lawsuit?

Usually, for all personal injury cases, the victim must file their lawsuit within two years from the date of the injuries. But, this can get very complicated when it comes to sexual abuse instances. For example, victims of sexual abuse may not come forward until years, even decades later. That is why the California legislature passed the child victims act in 2020.

This act allows anyone until the age of their 40th birthday or 22 years from the age of majority to hold the perpetrator responsible for damages from any sexual abuse. Further, the victim could also hold the perpetrator responsible for the lingering psychological effects and psychological illnesses. For more information, contact our California clergy sexual abuse attorneys today to see what the best steps are to make sure that you hold the perpetrator responsible. 

Who can I file a lawsuit against for my clergy sexual abuse lawsuit?

• The most common defendant in a sexual abuse clergy circumstance is the perpetrator themselves. Which means that it could be the priest or other employees.
• In the event that the church knew of the abuse tendencies of the clergy member, the church could also be held responsible.
• If there were other employees or volunteers that knew about the abuse but covered it up intentionally, they could also be held responsible. California requires that those who know of any instances of sexual abuse be required to report the abuse to the proper authorities. Those are considered the enablers of the abuse.

To see exactly which party you could hold responsible, contact our top-rated California sexual abuse lawyers to schedule a one-on-one consultation. 

Why should I file a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit?

• We know that no monetary amount will be able to repay you for the trauma and the physical injuries that you have had to face from the sexual abuse. But, when you file a legal action against the abuser, you are taking a stand against the abuser and preventing any other future abuses from happening.
• You are also able to get financially compensated for the pain and suffering that you have gone through.
• Besides the financial compensation, you could also hold the perpetrator responsible and have a record, making it difficult for the perpetrator to have any other future employment opportunities.
• Further, when you hold abuse perpetrators responsible, you are making an example to others who may not have come forward in cases of sexual abuse.