The Archdiocese of Washington state is paying 1.3 million dollars to more than 12 men who allege to have been subjected to clergy sex abuse by priests for 2 decades, from the 60’s to the 80’s. The agreement came after the sex abuse victims tried filing civil claims 3 years ago. Lawsuits weren’t filed as the Statutes of Limitation expired . That caused the settlement to be smaller than most priest sex abuse or church sex abuse settlements usually are. Clergy abuse or any child sex abuse is a hideous thing. Being sexually abused by a trusted member of the church or a trusted official of any institution charged with monitoring minors is a life altering tragedy. It’s a shame when a suit isn’t filed in time. Sex abuse victims deserve closure and justice.
Sex abuse attorney Sam Rogatinsky wants survivors of sex abuse to get that closure and the justice they deserve. But Sam doesn’t just take on clergy abuse cases. Sam will take on sex abusers and child sex abusers anywhere they can be found. Sam even once filed a sexual abuse suit against a mental health facility that was abusing a patient. The Rogatinsky Firm files sex abuse cases against churches and church officials, but they also file suits against schools, teachers and administrators, hospitals and medical professionals such as doctors and psychologists, mental health facilities, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs and athletic organizations. Sex abuse cannot be tolerated, and it is not tolerated by the Rogatinsky. Mr. Rogatinsky believes therapy and support are important too. He’ll even help you find a therapist and put you in touch with child sexual abuse support groups such as http://childmolestationprevention.org/.
Child sex abuse occurs in too many places deemed to be safe for our children. According to a report that the U.S. Department of Education filed, 6 to 10% children who attend public schools have been sexually abused. The report states that approximately 290,000 students endured some form of sex abuse at the hands of a school employee from 91 to 2000 alone. It’s time all sex abuse victims had their day in court.
The statute of limitations for Washington are listed here:
Statute of Limitations for Civil Cases:
- There is a 3 year Statute of Limitations for child sexual abuse cases with a delayed tolling until the victim’s 18th Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 4.16.340(1). Or until the sex abuse victim discovered or reasonably discovered that the injury or condition was causally related to the alleged sex abuse act. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 4.16.340(1)(b). § 4.16.340(1)(c).
Statute of Limitations for Criminal Cases:
There is a 3 year Statute of Limitations for child sexual abuse for most offenses within 3 years of the sex abuse victim’s 18th birthday or within 7 years of the sexual abuse itself, whichever comes later. : See Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9A.04.080(1)(c). Unless a first or second degree rape victim was less than 14 years old at the time of the sex abuse offense and it was reported to the authorities within 1 year after its commission, then the sex abuse claim must be filed within 3 years after the victim turns 18 or 10 years after the sex abuse itself, whichever comes later. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9A.04.080(1)(b)(iii).
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