Sexual abuse by priests, ministers, rabbis or other members of the clergy was once considered shocking and unfathomable. In recent years, however, the news media has reported enough sordid tales that this phenomenon is now well known.
When priests, ministers, rabbis or other members of the clergy take advantage of their position and sexually abuse children, it is an unforgivable act that demands both criminal punishment and civil liability. In many cases, particularly in claims involving the Catholic Church, individuals in authority knew of abusers and failed to take appropriate action. Consequently, abusers were given free rein to take advantage of youth for years or even decades.
Klest Injury Law Firm's Efforts for Changes in the Law to Help People Who Were Sexually Abused During Youth
According to the National Child Abuse Prevention Project (NCAPP), more than 90 percent of child abuse is committed by someone a child knows and trusts. The NCAPP also reports that 50 to 80 percent of all sexual abuse goes unreported. Often, a story of sexual exploitation of a child comes to light in adulthood when suppressed memories return. Lawyer Joseph G. Klest and other advocates successfully lobbied the Illinois legislature to revise the state's sex crime laws to allow for prosecution of child sexual abuse or sexual exploitation long after the fact.
Illinois Statute § 13--202.2(b) states that an action for damages for personal injury based on childhood sexual abuse must be commenced within 20 years of the date the person abused discovers or through the use of reasonable diligence should discover that the act of childhood sexual abuse occurred and that the injury was caused by the childhood sexual abuse.
This law has given many victims of abuse more time to come forward and achieve a measure of justice against their abuser.
Do you carry painful memories of Chicago priest or rabbi abuse? Attorney Joseph Klest of Klest Injury Law Firm can help. He has helped many individuals bring sex abuse cases against sex abusers and those in leadership positions who allowed this abuse to continue. He has taken sex abuse cases all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Pursue Compensation for Past Clergy Abuse · Attorney in Illinois Represents Plaintiffs Abused as Children
Contact Klest Injury Law Firm for a confidential free initial discussion regarding suspected sexual abuse of a child or child molestation. We are prepared to answer your questions about legal remedies if you have been victimized by a Catholic priest, a Protestant minister, a rabbi, or any other clergy member or adult leader, recently or in your past.
