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Clergy Abuse

• Legally, What is Sexual Abuse by a Pastor or Catholic Priest?
• What are My Legal Options After Catholic Priest Sex Abuse or Abuse by a Pastor?
• How Long Do I Have to File a Sexual Abuse Claim?

If you or someone you love has been the vicitm of clergy sexual abuse, be prepared to be outraged by the following statistics from John Jay researchers:

• More than 10,600 people said that they were molested by priests since 1950.
  
• Roman Catholic clergy were involved.
  
• Most of the victims were male. The largest age group was boys 11 to 14 years old.
  
• The alleged abuses ranged from touching, with or without clothing, to oral sex and sexual intercourse.
  
• Over $572 million has been paid in damages to the victims.
  And these numbers only cover clergy in the Roman Catholic Church. By some estimates, 30% of clergy in all denominations have misused their power and taken advantage of the people that trust them.

The offense is unspeakable. The damage indescribable. There is no question that the abusers must be stopped.

Coming forward is a big step. Starting the legal process is a monumental act of courage. You will need the right lawyer to make sure your story is heard and justice is done.

At Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A., we specialize in personal injury. We have considerable knowledge and skill when it comes to representing clients with a clergy sexual abuse case. With decades of collective experience, lawyers at our firm consistently gain some of the largest recoveries for personal injury victims, including numerous verdicts and settlements in excess of $1,000,000.

Call us for a free consultation. You can reach us toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, by email at info@pritzkerlaw.com, or with our online consultation form. We are a national law firm with clients throughout the United States and offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We’re ready when you are.

Sexual Abuse by a Pastor or Priest: The Legal Process
If you have been sexually abused by a pastor or Catholic priest, you have a lot of legal questions. Below are a few answers to a couple of them.

Legally, What is Sexual Abuse by a Pastor or Catholic Priest?
Clergy sexual abuse happens when any person with ministerial authority engages in…

• Sexual activity with congregants or employees; 
• Sexual type behavior with congregants or employees, such as sexual jokes, inappropriate touching, or questionable gift giving; or 
• Sexual harassment.

Persons with ministerial authority include professionals and lay people—ordained clergy, deacons, church school teachers, youth group leaders, church musicians, and camp counselors, to name a few.

What are My Legal Options after Catholic Priest Sex Abuse or Abuse by a Pastor?
Your legal options include a civil lawsuit and a criminal complaint. In criminal proceedings, you do not retain a lawyer because, if the state chooses to prosecute the case, it becomes State vs. abuser. The best possible outcome in a criminal case involving clergy sexual abuse is jail time for the abuser, although some states have victim compensation funds.

In a civil lawsuit, you retain your own lawyer, and you must prove that it is more likely than not that clergy sexual abuse happened. The best outcome in a civil lawsuit is an award of money damages from the court. If your claim is successful, the religious institution and the abuser will be forced to compensate you for medical and counseling costs, as well as pain, suffering and emotional distress. Punitive damages may also be allowed (money awarded to punish the wrongdoer, not just compensate the victim).

How Long Do I Have to File a Sexual Abuse Claim?
You have to file a suit involving clergy sexual abuse within a specific time frame. This is the "statutes of limitations." We strongly recommend that you get legal counsel on this matter as quickly as possible.

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A.
Plaza VII, Suite 2950
45 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1652

Telephone: 612-338-0202
Toll-Free: 1-888-377-8900
Fax: 612-338-0104
Email:info@pritzkerlaw.com

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A.: Minnesota personal injury lawyers with a national
reputation for excellence in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death.

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