In recent years, there have been numerous reports of widespread sexual misconduct within religious organizations like the Catholic Church, many instances of which involved very young children being exploited and abused. If you were assaulted or otherwise subjected to sexually inappropriate behavior by a clergy member, you know all too well how all-encompassing the effects of this type of abuse can be, as well as how long they can continue to negatively impact your life even after the abuse itself stops.
While civil litigation cannot erase what happened to you or fully take the place of criminal prosecution, pursuing fair financial compensation with a sexual abuse attorney’s help can still be key to ensuring you have the best life possible in spite of the mistreatment you experienced. If you want to pursue a claim like this or just have questions about your legal options, a Stamford clergy sexual abuse lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna LLC can provide the compassionate support you need to proactively enforce your rights.
A lawsuit over sexual abuse committed by a clergy member in Stamford can seek compensation for both economic and non-economic repercussions of that abuse, including:
Importantly, individuals in Connecticut who were sexually abused as children very often still have grounds to file suit over that abuse as adults. The statute of limitations allows childhood sexual abuse victims 30 years or more to begin the legal process after the last time they experienced that abuse. However, slightly different deadlines may apply depending on how long ago the abuse in question occurred, so it is worth discussing the matter in more detail with a Stamford clergy sexual abuse attorney before formally taking any legal action alone.
Another important thing to understand about sexual abuse litigation is that it is not always necessary to prove that sexual abuse caused some kind of physical injury in order to file suit over it. This is because, under certain circumstances, it is possible to file suit in Connecticut over “intentional infliction of emotional distress”—in other words, over someone causing another person to experience extreme emotional pain through intentional or extremely inappropriate behavior.
With that said, establishing the existence of damages caused by emotional distress can often be much more complex than establishing the existence of medical bills and other objective losses caused by abuse-related injuries. It is especially important to have a seasoned lawyer’s help when trying to pursue this type of claim over sexual abuse by clergy in Stamford.
No one should ever experience sexual misconduct from a priest or other clergy member. Unfortunately, this kind of abuse has occurred in churches and other religious institutions all over the world for decades. If there is one silver lining to that reality, it is that its egregiousness has forced Connecticut legislators to significantly expand your right to demand civil restitution from your abuser.
A Stamford clergy sexual abuse lawyer can be a steadfast ally from beginning to end of your legal proceedings, working tirelessly to get you paid everything you deserve. Call Berkowitz and Hanna LLC today to get started on your potential claim. Your initial consultation is completely confidential and free of charge.
Berkowitz Hanna
1177 Summer St 4th Floor
Stamford CT
06905
