Clergy abuse is a major problem in Germantown, Maryland, and other cities across the nation. The impacts of clergy abuse are far-reaching and can affect members of the community as well as the survivors. If you have been a victim of clergy abuse, you need to seek legal assistance.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is dedicated to empowering Germantown survivors to speak out, pursue justice against their abusers, and secure the financial compensation needed to rebuild their lives.
Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers are dedicated to helping survivors of clergy abuse in Germantown. Our team combines local expertise, extensive experience, and genuine compassion to handle your case with the utmost care and professionalism.
Priest grooming and handling
Deacon assault and rape
Clergy child abuse filed in adulthood
Volunteer-perpetrated Catholic church abuse
Religious school priest teen sexual abuse
Case filed against a deceased priest
We work tirelessly to hold abusers accountable and secure the maximum possible settlement for you. Our goal is to facilitate healing through justice and obtain the financial compensation necessary for survivors to begin or continue their recovery journey.
Prevalence of Catholic Church Sex Abuse in Germantown
Clergy abuse statistics for Germantown and its surrounding diocese reveal:
- The Archdiocese of Washington received its first report of abuse in 1991. [1]
- A report was published in 2018 with a list of 31 credibly accused clergymen who abused children. [2]
Notable Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases and Accused Priests
Germantown is part of the Archdiocese of Washington DC and MD. Many priests and other clergy members have been accused or convicted of sexual abuse in Germantown parishes. Some of the most notable are:
- Owen John Melody: A former Navy chaplain, Melody was convicted of sexually abusing a young girl for three years. He received a sentence of 20 years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation and five years of mandatory therapy.
- Matthew Miles: He admitted to sodomizing young boys throughout Washington, DC, and sexually abusing at least one boy during his time at St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota.
Common Forms of Clergy Abuse
Sexual abuse victims can experience abuse in many different ways:
- Grooming: Building trust with a child’s family to make child sex abuse easier for them.
- Exposure: Exposing oneself to a child or manipulating them into exposing themself.
- Exploitation: Abusing a position of authority to coerce sexual favors.
- Inappropriate Touching: Unwanted touches disguised as affectionate or pastoral gestures.
- Sexual Assault: Non-consensual sexual behaviors like groping or rape.
- Sexual Verbal Abuse: Making unwanted sexual comments or jokes.
Common Signs of Clergy Abuse Among Child Victims
Common signs of child sexual abuse in the church are:
- Insomnia, bet wetting, or nightmares
- Unexplained physical symptoms like bleeding, bruising, and pain in private areas
- Increased anxiety and fear surrounding religion or specific clergy members
- Struggling academically
- Sudden behavioral changes like being aggressive, regressing to younger behaviors or withdrawing from loved ones
- Inappropriate sexual knowledge for their age
Eligibility to File a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
For those sexually abused by someone in the Catholic Church or other religious institutions, understanding who’s eligible to file a civil lawsuit can be helpful:
- Survivors of childhood sexual abuse with their legal guardians acting on their behalf
- Adult victims of sexual abuse or assault
- Adult survivors who experienced sexual abuse as children
Liability in Clergy Abuse Cases
Establishing who is liable in sex abuse lawsuits is necessary. There’s individual liability and institutional liability. The individual who perpetuates adult or child sex abuse can be held liable in civil court and even face criminal charges.
Outside of the individual, sometimes an institution, like the Roman Catholic Church, can be held liable for sexual abuse. Institutional liability can be pursued on legal principles such as:
- Vicarious liability, which means they’re liable for the actions of their employees
- Negligent hiring, retention, or supervising practices
- Failing to report or investigate allegations of sexual or physical abuse
Proving the institution’s role in enabling abuse is crucial for establishing liability and securing justice for survivors.
The Statute of Limitations for Filing Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in Germantown
In Germantown, the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit related to clergy abuse varies. For adult survivors, the limit is typically three years from the date of the abuse or its discovery. For child sexual abuse, the recent Maryland Child Victims Act removed the statute of limitations for any sexual abuse that happened when the survivor was under 18 years old.
Types of Cases Handled by Our Germantown Clergy Abuse Lawyers
Our law firm has extensive experience handling a wide range of clergy sexual abuse cases in the Archdiocese of Washington, which includes Germantown and Montgomery County. We specialize in:
- Exposing institutional cover-ups
- Addressing abuse by priests, pastors, and other religious leaders across denominations
- Abuse at specific Germantown parishes and institutions
- Holding the Catholic Church and other religious institutions accountable
- Litigating historic cases of clergy sexual abuse
Steps to Take if You Are a Victim
If you’ve been a victim of sexual abuse, follow these steps to ensure your well-being:
- Find somewhere safe to go that’s away from your abuser.
- Seek medical attention, even if you don’t have any visible injuries.
- Write down everything you can about the sexual abuse to establish a timeline and show a pattern of abuse.
- Preserve evidence with a rape kit at the hospital or clothing you wore at the time of the abuse.
- Reach out to loved ones for support or local resources in Germantown, like House of Ruth, Maryland.
- Consult with an experienced clergy sexual abuse attorney.
How Our Germantown Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Help
When you choose to work with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, you’ll have a compassionate and experienced ally in your corner. We help survivors by:
- Creating a safe place for a free and confidential consultation to hear your legal options.
- Taking the time to investigate your claim and collect as much evidence as possible.
- Developing a legal strategy to secure you the maximum compensation.
- Negotiating with the liable parties’ counsel to come to a settlement.
- Representing you in court if we cannot reach a settlement
The Cost of Hiring a Germantown Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorney
When you hire Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers to help your Germantown civil lawsuit, you won’t owe us anything right away. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t have to pay us any legal fees unless we can secure a settlement for your case.
Compensation for Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims
Civil lawsuits for sexual abuse can hold abusers and institutions accountable and secure financial compensation for survivors. While no settlement can erase the past, it can help cover damages such as:
- Medical and therapy expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages
- Lost wages
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Since every sexual abuse case is different, how much a survivor will receive in compensation will depend on factors like:
- The strength of the evidence
- The severity and duration of the abuse
- The financial resources of the institution
- The impact of the abuse
Contact Our Germantown Clergy Abuse Attorneys Today!
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is dedicated to helping sexual abuse survivors in Germantown seek justice and receive compensation. We’ll handle your case with compassion while pursuing the maximum compensation possible.
Call (888) 424-5757 or fill out our online form.
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