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We at D’Amore Personal Injury Law are committed to supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse. A critical deadline is approaching for those seeking to file claims against the Archdiocese of Baltimore in bankruptcy court. Survivors must submit their claims by May 31, as decided by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michelle M. Harner. This date is essential for anyone seeking a financial settlement from the Archdiocese. Read More – The Full Story
Attorneys for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and abuse survivors are expected back in court next week as the church’s bankruptcy proceedings unfold. Meanwhile, survivors say they’re eager for answers about how they’ll find justice amid the bankruptcy process. Read More – The Full Story
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As the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s bankruptcy begins to work its way through the legal system, court officials have selected a group of sexual abuse victims who, with an assist from several attorneys, will eventually negotiate settlement terms for the hundreds of fellow survivors. Read More – The Full Story
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Catholic parishes and schools will largely be protected from lawsuits, for now, but will have to pay up when a final settlement with survivors is reached. Read More – The Full Story
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With the Archdiocese of Baltimore weighing bankruptcy as a means to compensate abuse victims, its assets are difficult to untangle after years of legal maneuvering to shelter property while retaining control. Read More – The Full Story
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The Baltimore Archdiocese is considering filing for bankruptcy as it anticipates a potential flood of lawsuits starting Oct. 1, when a new Maryland law will lift the statute of limitations on claims from those who say they were sexually abused as children, according to internal emails among church officials and a communications specialist. Read More – The Full Story
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For more details, you can read the articles:
– Most redacted names in Archdiocese of Baltimore sexual abuse report can be released, judge rules
– Baltimore judge lifts most redactions in report on sex abuse within Archdiocese of Baltimore
– 4 takeaways on the ruling to unredact names in Archdiocese of Baltimore sex abuse report
– More redacted names in child sex abuse report to be released
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“In 2018, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General launched a Grand Jury investigation into the Archdiocese of Baltimore, examining criminal allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy, seminarians, deacons, and employees of the Archdiocese. The Office of the Attorney General also set out to investigate efforts by the leadership of the Catholic Church to hide sexual abuse. The Grand Jury of Baltimore City issued subpoenas to the Archdiocese, as well as to individual parishes, religious orders, and St. Mary’s Seminary. Hundreds of thousands of documents dating back to the 1940s were produced in response to the subpoenas, including treatment reports, personnel records, transfer reports, and policies and procedures.” –Full Report HERE
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The legislation aims to expand the definition of sexual abuse in civil actions related to child sexual abuse. The definition would include any act where an adult allows or encourages a child to engage in certain activities or any other sexual conduct that is a crime. Additionally, the bill seeks to remove statutes of limitations and repose in certain civil actions relating to child sexual abuse, giving survivors more time to seek justice through civil litigation. This would also allows for the retroactive application of the Act under specific circumstances. – Maryland Senate Bill SB0686
Here are some recent cases and settlements related to sexual assault allegations against the Catholic Church and its priests.
August 2023: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse has agreed to pay $100 million to survivors of child sexual abuse at the hands of the church’s clergy, religious leaders, and lay members. [source]
August 2023: Stephen Sauer, a 61-year-old former Catholic priest, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting over a dozen men in New Orleans. [source]
November 2019: In Pennsylvania, hundreds of victims of priest sexual abuse have received reparations from the Catholic Church. A new legal maneuver has allowed people to sue the church over old sexual abuse claims. [source]
Please note that the amount of damages recovered can vary greatly depending on the specifics of each case, including the severity and duration of the abuse, the number of victims involved, and the jurisdiction in which the case is tried. Every case is different. Please do not expect your case to be identical to the above, but allow it to serve as an idea of what is possible.
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