Sexual abuse is a heinous crime that leaves its victims with deep emotional scars. As such, New York state doles out stiff punishment to sex abusers, such as long prison sentences and registering as a sex offender with local authorities when relocating to a new neighborhood.
Nonetheless, sex abuse crimes continue to be a problem in Poughkeepsie and surrounding areas, where clergy members of the Catholic Church have a history of committing such acts.
If you live in Poughkeepsie and a clergy member of your church sexually abused you, you do not have to suffer in silence. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm is here to assist you. We can fight to make the liable clergy member pay for their wrongdoing. Our Poughkeepsie clergy abuse lawyer can provide legal counsel and representation if you decide to file a lawsuit. For inquiries, contact the team at (800) 219-9622.
New York Laws that Help Poughkeepsie Abuse Victims
In the past, New York’s child sexual abuse victims—including those who suffered at the hands of clergy members—had a very limited time to file both criminal and civil lawsuits against their abusers. They only had a maximum of five years after turning 18 years old to bring the case to court. Victims of sexual abuse often have a hard time disclosing their experience, much less filing a lawsuit due to the stigma that comes with it. For many, it can take years before they feel secure enough to confront their abusers. As a result, the deadline for taking legal action would expire, leaving countless sex abuse victims with no recourse.
With the signing of the Child Victims Act in 2019, you or your loved one now have a significantly extended statute of limitations. Sexual abuse victims can submit their civil cases until they turn 55 years old. So as long as you are 55 or younger, you can sue the clergy even if the abuse happened decades ago.
Furthermore, you can also file claims against other institutions that are involved in the sexual abuse incident. For instance, if the clergy member abused you or your loved one inside a school, you could sue the school for negligence if they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the incident.
Damages in your Clergy Abuse Case
Much like in other types of civil cases, you can recover compensatory damages from the liable clergy. These are categorized into two types: economic and non-economic. Economic damages pay for the actual financial costs, such as medications and the therapy or emotional counseling bills. Meanwhile, non-economic damages aim to compensate you for the pain and suffering you went through. These can include psychological trauma and damage to your reputation.
Forming a clergy abuse lawsuit can be emotionally distressing. Before filing any case against the Poughkeepsie clergy member, you can first consult with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. The team’s clergy abuse lawyer is ready to guide you through each step in your case. You can call us today if you need more details.
For a free legal consultation with a Clergy Abuse Lawyer serving Poughkeepsie, call (800) 794-0444
How a Poughkeepsie Clergy Abuse Lawyer Can Assist You
Clergy abuse attorneys have extensive knowledge of sex abuse cases. They can offer legal counsel to help you better understand your rights. The abuse lawyer can also help ensure that you comply with your case’s filing requirements, including submitting all the necessary paperwork before the deadline. A simple error or oversight when making your claim could significantly delay the process or lead to a dismissal of your case. With the help of an attorney, you can ensure your case isn’t thrown out on a technicality and you get your day in court.
If you claim that you were sexually abused, you will need to prove it with supporting evidence. However, trying to gather evidence on your own could be difficult, especially if the abuse happened years ago. Lawyers are skilled at collecting evidence and can help you with this aspect of your case.
The clergy abuse lawyer could access their resources to help prove the abuse. For instance, they could get in touch with a psychologist specializing in sexual abuse trauma who can testify for you. The attorney could also investigate for other pieces of evidence that you might have missed, such as possible witnesses or security cameras that could have seen the abuse occur. Having ample evidence could also increase the amount of compensation you can recover.
Also, keep in mind that the clergy member who abused you or the church they belonged to might bring a lawyer to defend their side. You may struggle to raise arguments against the abusive clergy member if you do it on your own. However, with a clergy abuse attorney, you will have someone who can help figure out how to present your evidence in a way that can refute the other party’s defenses. A lawyer could help you persuade the jury into giving you the compensation you need to recover financially. If the church proposes to meet privately first, the lawyer can still help you negotiate until you reach an agreeable settlement.
Poughkeepsie Clergy Abuse Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
You Have the Right to Seek Justice
Experiencing abuse from those who should be moral examples in their churches is a painful ordeal for anyone. The Pintas & Mullins Law Firm team understands your distressing situation and the difficulties of suing the clergy by yourself. Our Poughkeepsie clergy abuse lawyer is here to support you throughout the filing process and defend you until you receive the restitution owed to you.
Our law office has worked with clients on personal injury cases for over 30 years. Besides clergy abuse lawsuits, we also handle nursing home abuse, dog bites, and drug-related injuries. The legal team operates nationwide and is available to help you with your legal concerns. If you need more information on our lawyers’ services, you can call at (800) 219-9622 anytime. We work on contingency, and a member of our team can evaluate your case for free.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
