Were You Sexually Abused As A Child In The Diocese Of Buffalo? We Can Help.

If you have been sexually abused by a priest – or anyone else working in the Diocese of Buffalo – you may have a limited time to seek justice due to the recent passage of the Child Victims Act. Horowitz Law is now evaluating legal claims for anyone sexually abused by a priest, brother, nun, teacher, coach, or other lay employee of the Diocese of Buffalo. Contact us today at 954-641-2100 to learn more.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 25 CAN FILE CIVIL LAWSUITS SEEKING JUSTICE FOR THE LIFETIME OF HURT AND SHAME THAT IS CAUSED BY CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE. THIS IS STILL TRUE EVEN THOUGH THE DIOCESE OF BUFFALO HAS FILED BANKRUPTCY.

Avvo Rating Badge

Due to the recent passage of the long-fought Child Victims Act in early 2019, people over the age of 25 now have the ability to file civil lawsuits for damages resulting from childhood sexual abuse in New York state.

A short “window” of time, as it is often called, will allow anyone sexually abused as a child in New York state to file lawsuits against their perpetrators and the institutions that protected and enabled the abusers, even if the statute of limitations had previously run out. The window is expected to open in the summer of 2019, but will only be open for a very limited time. Once the window has expired, many clergy sexual abuse claims will be forever barred.

In February 2020, the Diocese of Buffalo filed for federal bankruptcy protection. Anyone sexually abused by anyone employed by the Diocese of Buffalo, including priests, teachers, and youth ministers, is likely going to be eligible to file a claim for damages in the bankruptcy court. The Diocese of Buffalo’s bankruptcy file does not mean that sexual abuse survivors are left out in the cold – but it does mean that very strict filing deadlines will apply once they are set by the Bankruptcy Court. If you miss these filing deadlines, you may never be able to sue the Diocese of Buffalo in the future.

In addition to those sexually abused as children, it is possible that anyone sexually abused as an adult and even the estates of deceased victims may be able to file claims in the bankruptcy court, depending on how the court defines the potential class of creditors.

Therefore, it is very important that you contact us today to determine your legal options against the Diocese of Buffalo and anyone else who has hurt you.

OUR LAWYERS ARE AMONG THE MOST EXPERIENCED IN THE COUNTRY IN CASES OF CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE – AND EXPERIENCE MATTERS WHEN CHURCH LEADERS HAVE SOME OF THE TOUGHEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA WORKING TO PROTECT THEIR SECRETS.

Sexual abuse by any member of the clergy is an egregious breach of trust. Adam Horowitz is among the most experienced attorneys in the country in representing persons sexually abused by priests from the Catholic church and clergy of many other faiths. Since 2000, the lawyers of Horowitz Law have handled hundreds of clergy sexual abuse cases involving various religious institutions, including Roman Catholic dioceses and religious orders nationwide. These cases have arisen in religious schools, churches and parishes, seminaries, religious counseling, retreats, schools and other activities sponsored by religious institutions.

In these cases, the lawyers of Horowitz Law have often prevailed on complex issues involving statutes of limitations, the First Amendment, and the discovery of “confidential” records that the Catholic Church has tried to conceal for nearly a century in some cases. In fighting these battles, our attorneys have become very familiar with the church’s unique hierarchy, record-keeping policies, terminology, and defense tactics, and are often called upon by colleagues to consult on these matters.

Most importantly, we have become familiar with the unique challenges and needs of survivors of clergy sexual abuse – and their families – during the legal process. Your safety and well-being are always our first priority.

THROUGH OUR OWN INVESTIGATION, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED 151 CLERGY AND EMPLOYEES OF THE DIOCESE OF BUFFALO WHO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE.

Truth is power. Through our own efforts, our lawyers have compiled what we believe is the most comprehensive list of priests and other clergy who have worked in the Diocese of Buffalo, and the list is expected to grow as more survivors come forward to speak their truth. So far, we have identified a staggering 151 clergy and employees who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing minors. In many cases, the people listed below were merely transferred from parish to parish after allegations arose, and left a long trail of victims across the Diocese of Buffalo.

Horowitz Law represents victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo in New York. The Diocese of Buffalo filed for bankruptcy protection in February 2020. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss a potential lawsuit and your other options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the Buffalo Diocese.

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.

Contact us at 954-641-2100 or reach out online to discuss your options today.