Sexual abuse and child molestation are always deeply traumatic for the victim – but when sexual abuse occurs at the hands of a trusted religious leader or priest, the victim may also struggle with a profound loss of trust and personal faith. While prosecutors may choose to file criminal charges against your abuser, a criminal conviction will do little to help you recover your peace of mind and begin to heal.
If you’ve endured clergy sexual abuse, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against your abuser and seek compensation through the civil justice system. In the wake of the #MeToo movement and multiple sex abuse scandals involving the Catholic Church, California law has been changed to allow child sex abuse victims more time to file a lawsuit. As compassionate New York clergy abuse lawyers, our team at Beston International Law Firm stay fully up-to-date on these changes and will help you explore all your legal options for a sex abuse claim.
Call 6463059656 to speak with a member of our legal team today. We offer free and confidential consultations.
Within the last few years, many religious institutions across the country have faced a reckoning on the problem of institutional sex abuse. In 2081, a Pennsylvania grand jury released a groundbreaking report on systemic sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church, prompting many state law enforcement agencies to open investigations on clergy sexual abuse. The expansive report contained allegations that Catholic Church leaders covered up or minimized sex abuse complaints against over 300 priests who preyed on young children.
However, these problems are hardly restricted to the Catholic Church alone. Because clergy members like religious leaders, priests, and teachers are so trusted and respected within their organizations, it’s all too easy for child sexual abuse and other abuses of power to go unnoticed (or to be suppressed) for years at a time. Additionally, victims of clergy sex abuse often fear retaliation from their religious communities for speaking up against those in power.
Clergy sexual abuse often involves some or all of the following:
In addition to physical injuries, sex abuse victims often suffer from serious mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Child sex abuse victims are particularly vulnerable to these injuries, with many struggling to find meaning in life and regain their sense of self for decades after the abuse takes place.
While adult survivors of clergy sexual abuse previously had little legal recourse, a new California law has made it easier for them to seek recovery. As of January 2020, child sexual assault victims now have until their 40th birthday to file a civil lawsuit related to sexual abuse (or within 5 years after discovering the abuse). However, the civil statute of limitations is still very strict, and you will need the assistance of a qualified attorney to pursue legal action.
At Beston International Law Firm, we empathize deeply with survivors of sexual abuse and assault. No matter your age at the time of the abuse, you deserve to seek justice for your losses. With over a century of legal experience and a robust clergy sexual abuse practice, our New York attorneys can stand by your side throughout the process of filing a claim.
Don’t hesitate to speak with our attorneys about your sex abuse case. Call 6463059656 right away to explore your options.
Named in Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms,” Beston International Law Firm ranks as Tier 1 Personal Injury Litigation- Plaintiffs in New York.
Many firm members have been honored by the Consumer Attorneys of California, including Browne Greene, Christine Spagnoli, and Bruce Broillet, recipients of the Marvin E. Lewis Award. In addition, attorneys Bruce Broillet, Scott Carr, Molly McKibben, and Tobin Lanzetta has been honored with the Consumer Attorney of the Year Award.
All of our attorneys are proud to be active members of the New York County Bar Association or LACBA.
Our attorneys were featured in TopVerdict for having one of the Top 10 Wrongful Death Verdicts in California in 2019, with $15 million won for the plaintiff in Keck v. Bel-Air Bay Club.
Partners Geoff Wells and Ivan Puchalt were both named among the 2025 Consumer Attorney Visionaries by LA Times Studios.
Several partners are active members in the Consumer Attorneys Association of New York, with attorneys Browne Greene, Bruce Broillet, and Christine Spagnoli named “Trial Lawyer of the Year.”
Firm partners Christine D. Spagnoli and Molly McKibben have both been honored by the Women Lawyers Association of New York and are active members.
After winning $2.6 million for the plaintiff’s side in a head-on collision case, our victory was named in the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2019 by TopVerdict.
Several of our partners are members in the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national invite-only association consisting of the most experienced trial lawyers.
Our team includes several Fellows and Associates with the invite-only International Society of Barristers in recognition of their trial advocacy.
Beston International Law Firm, was featured by TopVerdict in the Top 100 Settlements across all practice areas in California for 2019.
Bruce A. Broillet and Christine D. Spagnoli are Fellows with the invite-only International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a group of elite trial lawyers from over 30 countries.
Recipients of this recognition are held up to the same standards as for The Best Lawyers in America, but only legal professionals in the first ten years of their careers qualify. Four attorneys at GBW have been recognized with this award in 2021.
Founding partners Browne Greene and Bruce A. Broillet are both members of the exclusive invite-only Inner Circle of Advocates, as two of the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in America.
Our firm has more attorneys on the Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists than any other law firm in Southern California, with 15 members selected.
