Deacon George Brignac
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Ordained: 1976
Removed: 1988
Assigned as follows:
- Cabrini High School (New Orleans, LA)
- Our Lady of the Rosary (New Orleans, LA)
- St. Frances Cabrini School (New Orleans, LA)
- St. Louise de Marillac School (Arabi, LA)
- St. Matthew the Apostle School (River Ridge, LA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Deacon George Brignac:
Deacon George Brignac was one of the first clergy members in New Orleans to be accused and charged with sexual misconduct with juveniles in 1977. He was a teacher and parish deacon but also worked at several schools in the state of Louisiana before being ordained in 1976. George Brignac was eventually acquitted but was arrested two more times for similar charges in 1980 and 1988. He was found not guilty after a bench trial in Jefferson Parish in 1978, involving boys he allegedly victimized at St. Matthew the Apostle parish in River Ridge, Louisiana. Brignac was then removed from ministry shortly after in 1988.
In May of 2018, a settlement was made with claims of abuse of an altar boy over a 3-year period beginning in 1979. The boy was only 8-years-old and a Holy Rosary student at the time. It was also found out during this time that George Brignac was a lector at a Metairie parish and still had access to children via the Knights of Columbus.
By November of 2018, at least 13 men had alleged abuse by George Brignac as boys. A new lawsuit was filed a month prior claiming abuse in 1977-1982 of a Holy Rosary altar boy who was 8-13-years old.
George Brignac has been included on the Archdiocese of New Orlean’s list of credibly accused priests as of November 2018. Another lawsuit was filed in December of 2018 and was settled in March of 2019. Amongst all of the settlements made to the victims of sexual abuse by Brignac, it cost just over $3 million.
In August of 2019, George Brignac was arrested once again and charged with first-degree rape of a young boy. According to the victim, most of the assaults occurred at Brignac’s home, though occasionally he would abuse the child in a classroom or in his car. Police also said Brignac wrote love notes to the victim that were all handed over when he came forward in late August 2018. George Brignac pled not guilty on December 13th, 2019. It was the first arrest of a clergyman in New Orleans on a sex-abuse charge since the church’s long-simmering abuse crisis reignited last year.
George Brignac would face mandatory life imprisonment if convicted of first-degree rape.
According to media reports, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the local spread of it slowing down during the summer of 2020, the Criminal District Court Judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for July 9. Brignac became ill and was living in a nursing home while he was awaiting trial. However, he died on June 29th, 2020.
In April of 2020, the Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for bankruptcy protection. As part of its bankruptcy, the Archdiocese of New Orleans will be reviewing and paying claims for anyone sexually abused by diocesan priests and lay employees. This will likely include claims filed on behalf of anyone whose case may be beyond the statute of limitations.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for federal bankruptcy protection in April 2020. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss your legal options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the New Orleans Archdiocese. Very strict filing deadlines will soon be set by the Bankruptcy Court. Most victims of abuse will never be able to recover damages if they miss this deadline, so please contact us to discuss your case today. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to [email protected]