In May, a North Dakota newspaper disclosed, for the first time, that Fr. Gregory Patejko molested a teenager named Richard Jangula in 1976. Church officials aren’t denying the allegations. http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2009/05_06/2009_05_06_Lee_ACrime.htm Patejko worked at two Trenton diocese parishes: St. Stanislaus in Sayreville (1968-70) and St. Mary’s Polish church in South River (1971). Both had parochial schools. SNAP members are upset that Trenton’s bishop failed to neither disclose the settlement involving Patejko nor publicize his tenure in New Jersey. The group believes Trenton Catholic officials have a moral duty to use their vast resources to aggressively reach out to anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered Patejko’s crimes here. In 1994, Jangula, of Fargo, settled his child sex abuse claim with church officials there. The crimes took place in 1976 at St. Andrew Catholic Church of Zeeland ND (100 miles SW of Bismark). Jangula will NOT be present at the news conference but is able to speak to reporters by phone.

Take the child sex abuse that takes place at various schools today. Brother Raimond Rose taught at Archbishop Rummel High School decades ago and is now facing allegations of sexual abuse in four states. Archbishop Rummel High School is the only all-boys Catholic high school in Metairie. Rose taught there from 1975 to 1976 and 1980 to 1981. Nineteen of Rose’s former students have come forward in Minnesota, California, Wisconsin and North Dakota. He’s accused of sexual molestation dating as far back as 1966. While Rose was at Rummel High School, there were no allegations. According to school officials, there was no reason to do any background check other than the traditional check of any Christian Brother that comes in to the school. http://www.thegrio.com/news/former-all-boys-catholic-high-school-is-accused-of-sex-abuse.php

Attorney Samuel Rogatinsky cares about survivors of sexual Abuse. In addition to clergy abuse cases, Sam will expose sexual abusers from every type of organization or institution. Recently, Mr. Rogatinsky filed suit against a mental health facility that was abusing a patient. He wll review the circumstances of each particular case and guide survivors through the maze that they must navigate in order to get justice. In addition to clergy, priest and rabbi abuse, the Rogatinsky Firm will handle sexual abuse cases against churches, schools, medical professionals such as psychologists, mental health facilities, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs and athletic organizations. Sexual abuse is not tolerated by the Rogatinsky Firm and they will exhaust all resources before giving up on any case. You can reach Sam on the toll free number found on this site or call him at (954)995-3805 after hours. Mr. Rogatinsky believes child sex abuse support groups like http://www.childhelp.org/  can be helpful too.

 

Contact Mr. Rogatinsky if you have any type of sex abuse or child sex abuse case. For your convenience, the statute of limitations for Nevada are listed here:

Statute of Limitations for Civil Cases:

  • There is a 10 year Statute of Limitations for child sexual abuse cases with a delayed tolling until Two Year Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault and Battery Claims : A sexual abuse claim must be commenced within two years of the alleged abuse. N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-18; Peterson v. Huso, 552 N.W.2d 83, 84 (N.D. 1996).
  • Discovery Rule : North Dakota Courts affirmed the use of a discovery statute that allows the accrual of an action for sexual abuse to begin only when “the claimant knows, or with reasonable diligence should know, that a potential claim exists.” Peterson v. Huso, 552 N.W.2d 83, 84 (Dakota 1996); Osland v. Osland, 442 N.W.2d 907, 909 (N.D.1989).
  • Delayed Tolling for Minors : 18 years old + One Year. Persons under 18 years of age may bring their cause of action within one year after reaching the age of majority. N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-25.

Statute of Limitations for Criminal Cases:

There is a varying Statute of Limitations based on the sexual abuse itself. Seven-Year Statute of Limitations For Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse : The sexual abuse of minors must be prosecuted within seven years of the offense, or if the victim fails to report the abuse, within three years of the reporting. However, if the victim is under 15 years of age, the statute of limitations does not begin until the victim turns fifteen. N.D. Cent. Code §§ 29-04-03.1, 29-04-03.2

 

If someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy, contact our law firm at (954) 995.3805 or send an email to sexual abuse lawyer Samuel Rogatinsky at samr@clergyabuse.org