Fighting For Victims Of Church Sexual Abuse

Breaking News - Sexual Abuse Claim Against Priest Michael Pfleger

Some of the most well-publicized and disturbing acts of sexual assault have occurred within the Catholic Church and other religious organizations, where a trusted priest, pastor or clergy member has sexually assaulted one or more children.

Victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault often suffer lifelong injuries.  Many victims of sexual abuse suffer from a variety of illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety.  Oftentimes, victims of sexual assault manifest their symptoms in other ways as well, including, but not limited to, inability to hold down steady employment, drug abuse, interpersonal conflicts, commission of criminal offenses, and difficulty in maintaining a long-term relationship.

The Law Offices of Eugene K. Hollander is experienced in handling a wide variety of sexual abuse cases, including priest sexual abuse cases, sexual harassment, inappropriate touching and fondling, unlawful restraint, negligent hiring, supervision and retention, and invasion of privacy.  Mr. Hollander, a former prosecutor of Cook County, has the unique ability sensitively represent clients of sexual assault.

Prosecuting these cases presents a unique set of challenges.  Often, a victim of sexual abuse may be reluctant to come forward as they are afraid of not being believed.  Sexual assault cases usually involve people who hold positions of trust, like a priest, family member, or teacher.  With priest sexual abuse cases, the member of the clergy is usually well known to the family member of the victim.  Sometimes, the priest will tell a young victim of sexual abuse that the inappropriate contact is a secret between them, or that God will punish them if they disclose that the priest kissed her, or otherwise engaged in abusive fondling.  Family members may not wish to believe their children if they tell them that they have been abused in the church, or the rectory, or even in their own home.  Victims of these sexual assaults may have difficulty recalling specific details from abuse which happened many years ago.

While claims against the church have been highly publicized, civil claims against other entities can also be made.  Our office has handled a number of sexual abuse claims against school districts where teachers have allegedly sexually assaulted students.  Similar to clergy sexual abuse claims, the victims must demonstrate that the school district either knew or should have known about the sexual molestation of the student, yet failed to act.  Under Illinois law, school personnel (including administrators) “having reasonable cause to believe a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be an abused child or neglected child shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to [DCFS].”

Some victims may have been so traumatized that they have repressed the memories from a series of inappropriate sexual contacts.  The Law Offices of Eugene K. Hollander is well acquainted with the difficulties that a victim faces when they wish to complain of sexual abuse, and when necessary, can retain the appropriate experts to provide therapy or otherwise evaluate how such a victim has suffered financial losses, or how the trauma has interfered with their ability to hold down employment.

From a legal standpoint, since sexual abuse claims may have occurred long ago, a priest or church may claim that the statute of limitations may bar the victim’s claim.  The Illinois Childhood Sexual Abuse Act made it much easier for recent victims of sexual molestation to timely bring claims.  The Law Offices of Eugene K. Hollander can analyze whether such a defense may be successful, or whether the victim may be entitled to money damages as a result of the sexual abuse.

My office has made claims against the following priests, associated with the Archdiocese of Chicago:

  • Daniel McCormack (“Father Dan”)
  • Joseph Fitzharris (Father Fitz”)
  • William Cloutier (“Father Bill”)
  • George Clements
  • John Smyth
  • Reverend Ralph Strand
  • James Flynn
  • Robert E. Mayer
  • Edward Dufficy
  • Thomas Job
  • Norbert Maday
  • Phillip Kiley
  • Peter Bowman
  • David Ryan
  • Russell Romano
  • William Curran (“Father Bill”)
  • Donald O’Shaughnessy (assigned to Loyola Academy)
  • Thomas Wiese
  • Tom Johnston
  • Conrad Borntrager
  • Philip McGlynn
  • Terence Fitzmaurice
  • Michael Pfleger (“Father Mike”)

You may search the database of publicly accused Roman Catholic priests, nuns, brothers, deacons and seminarians here, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/accused.

Holding Sexual Abusers Accountable For Survivors

No one should have to endure sexual abuse. Whether you experienced abuse as a child or an adult, from a stranger or from someone you trusted, you have the right to work with a lawyer to hold the perpetrator accountable. 

Our team can help you. We are The Law Offices of Eugene K. Hollander, a Chicago personal injury firm that stands up for the victims of sexual abuse. Through legal action, we can help you seek compensation for the damages that your abuser caused. We have helped many survivors find a sense of justice and closure to their painful experiences of abuse.

What Are The Damages For Sexual Abuse?

Sex abuse can have several compensable damages for survivors. These may include:

  • Therapy costs
  • Lost wages
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Depression, anxiety and other mental illness
  • Pain and suffering
  • Drug and alcohol dependency treatment

You can learn whether you have an actionable case when you sit down with one of our compassionate team members. We will discuss your circumstances and provide guidance.

Our History Of Proven Results

We have earned a reputation throughout Illinois as an outstanding law firm in the field of sexual abuse cases. Our attorneys have taken on some of the most powerful institutions in the nation, including the Catholic church, the police force and major corporations. In one instance, we recovered a settlement of $2,950,000 for a survivor of sexual abuse by a priest. 

Did your loved one suffer sexual abuse at a nursing home? We can represent you. We can also help you if you experienced sexual abuse from a police officer.

Hold Abusers Accountable – Get Our Help

We will stop at nothing to advocate for your rights, recover compensation for your damages and bring abusers to justice. Because we work on a contingency basis, you will not pay anything unless we recover compensation. To schedule your confidential free consultation, call us at 312-425-9100 or send us an email.

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