When you or a loved one is a victim of clergy sexual abuse, it can affect every aspect of your life and make it difficult to function. But you have a right to justice, and we can help you hold your abuser accountable.
At White Law PLLC, our clergy sexual abuse attorneys in Grand Rapids, MI, can help you seek justice for the abuse. We’re dedicated to making sure that victims recover the compensation that covers the cost of any medical bills and emotional needs.
Who Can Be Held Accountable in a Clergy Sexual Abuse Case?
We understand that the trauma of being abused by a member of the clergy that you’re supposed to be able to trust can be overwhelming. And that’s why we’re here to help. You can hold the following parties responsible for their actions:
Clergy Members
If a member of a Grand Rapids clergy sexually abused you, you have the right to file a lawsuit against them. This can include actions such as rape, inappropriate touching, and verbal or physical sexual harassment.
Clergy members have a reputation and job to uphold, but when they use their power to take advantage of others, they must be held legally accountable.
The Church
The church where the clergy member practices can also be negligent. The most common way is for the church to be aware of the abuse and not report it.
In Michigan, clergy members are mandated reporters. However, if they learned about the abuse in a confessional setting, the priest-penitent privilege exempts them from reporting.
And sadly, most of the time, clergy members will only admit to their abuse in confessions. Another way the institution can be negligent is by moving the clergy member to a different church. This almost always guarantees that the abuse will just continue at the next church.
Church Attendees
The final party that can be held accountable is other people that attend the church. If a church attendee knows about the abuse or even tries to cover up the abuse, you can file a lawsuit against them.
Church attendees aren’t labeled as mandated reporters, but they have a duty of care to make sure that they don’t cause any harm. And if a person purposely tries to cover up abuse, they are directly causing harm by not stopping the abuse.
It can be difficult to determine who is accountable for clergy abuse when there are multiple parties involved. A clergy sexual abuse lawyer in Grand Rapids, MI, from our firm can help you identify who is responsible for the abuse so you can get the damages that you qualify for.
Grand Rapids Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer Near Me (517) 316-1195
Damages You Can Recover in a Clergy Sexual Abuse Case
Money can in no way compensate for what you or a loved one went through, but having money to pay for any costs that may come your way can be helpful. A lawyer can help you recover damages for expenses such as:
- Current and future medical bills
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of future earnings
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of income
The damages that you qualify for depend on the severity of the effects you experience as a result of the abuse, as well as the number of parties that contributed to your abuse. Our attorneys can tell you what damages you qualify for.
For a free legal consultation with a clergy sexual abuse lawyer serving Grand Rapids, call (517) 316-1195
How White Law PLLC Can Help You with a Clergy Sexual Abuse Case
One of the most difficult parts of holding a clergy member accountable for sexual abuse is gathering evidence. And our lawyers excel in doing so and we can help you build a strong case with relevant evidence and witnesses to prove your claim. By having documentation of the events, you have a higher chance of getting full compensation.
Our attorneys are passionate about helping you recover financially, physically, and emotionally. We’ve dedicated a large amount of our time to helping victims of clergy sexual abuse, and we know how difficult it can be as a survivor. Our passion drives us to get you the best compensation we can.
When you try to hold a clergy member accountable, the church often lawyers up or even tries to hide it. But our firm can come back even stronger, we can uncover the church’s attempts to cover up the harm the clergy member has done. If you were sexually abused by a clergy member, a clergy sexual abuse attorney in Grand Rapids, MI, can help you fight for justice.
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Contact Us to Get a Free Case Consultation
The pain of suffering sexual abuse from a clergy member can be life-altering. Our clergy sexual abuse lawyers in Grand Rapids, MI, at White Law PLLC can be there to fight for your financial recovery as well as your injury recovery.
Call us or fill out the contact form on our page to get started with a free case consultation.
Call or text (517) 316-1195 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form