Sometimes, trusted individuals in a church use their power to harm others. When this happens to you, you deserve justice.
If you or a loved one endured a non-consensual sexual act at the hands of a member of the clergy, as described by Code of Virginia Article 7 §18.2, you can take legal action against that party. The team with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can walk you through your rights and connect you with a Virginia clergy sexual abuse lawyer.
To reach out and start building your case, you can call (800) 219-9622.
Building a Case with a Virginia Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer
You are not alone in your fight for justice. The team with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you navigate the complicated days after a clergy member sexually abuses you or your loved one.
For example, you do not have to face a liable party on your own, nor do you have to go to court to fight for a settlement. Instead, you can work with a clergy sexual abuse lawyer to calculate your estimated compensation ahead of time and negotiate from there. In some cases, a liable party may be open to these sorts of communications and can, as such, offer you a settlement before you even reach out.
An attorney can evaluate whether the settlement amount will compensate you fairly and negotiate from there if you believe that the settlement does not attend to all of your needs. You can also have an attorney reach out to the party for you with your estimated compensation and request that such a settlement come forward.
However, if it seems that the party you wish to hold liable will not compensate you fairly for the abuse you endured, you can take action through a court. A clergy sexual abuse lawyer can help you file a complaint with your local court that can bring the liable party to justice.
Understanding Clergy Sexual Abuse Complaints
Each case of clergy sexual assault has unique features, even if there is a precedent of such cases taking place. A complaint is a document that can help make these unique features clear to a court. When filing a complaint, you can identify:
- The clergy member that sexually abused you
- Evidence against the clergy member
- All of your losses, economic and noneconomic
You do not have to go about the process of finding evidence on your own. Instead, a clergy sexual abuse lawyer can work to determine what kind of evidence may be available to you. You can, however, choose to disclose what happened to your or a loved one and have your testimony serve as evidence alongside what other data may arise.
It is in the matter of compensation that you can have a more active hand. Your avenues for compensation after a case of clergy sexual abuse can include:
- Medical bills, including treatments to restore your previous quality of life
- The cost of medical treatment needed in the future as recommended by medical professionals
- Cost for an abortion or pregnancy
- The cost of physical therapy
- The cost of psychological counseling
- The cost of lost wages or opportunities for employment
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional trauma
- Wrongful death and funeral costs, if applicable
A clergy sexual abuse lawyer can help you estimate what the value of your losses may come out to based on your economic and noneconomic damages.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Works on Contingency
You may be reluctant to take legal action after an incident of clergy sexual abuse for several reasons, including the potential costs. Many victims of injury and abuse think that cost of pursuing justice against certain individuals can be more costly than it is worth. However, you should not have to worry about any out-of-pocket payments.
The team with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm aims to disprove those myths. As such, the firm operates on a contingency fee basis. Should you choose to take legal action against the party liable for your losses, you will not receive a bill for the services rendered unto you by the firm. Instead, you will only receive a bill if a court determines that you should receive compensation for your losses.
As affirmed by the American Bar Association, this type of fee arrangement is common for personal injury lawyers and those who take on sexual abuse cases. As such, you can rest assured knowing that you will not have to pay a firm with money from your savings. Rather, you can let your settlement do that kind of legwork for you.
Fight for Justice with a Virginia Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Incidents of sexual abuse involving members of your clergy can make you feel as though your world has turned upside down. Faith, after all, most often fosters love and community, and it can be jarring to have those expectations upended.
You do not, however, have to let a liable party get away with their behavior. The team with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you take action against the clergy member that sexually abused you. Together, you can address your case and calculate what compensation you may be owed.
If you feel ready to discuss your case, you can reach out to the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm representatives serving Virginia at (800) 219-9622.
You should not have to suffer further under the financial pressure of the consequences following sexual abuse. Instead, we want to help you hold your abuser responsible for your losses and get you adequately compensated.