YOU ARE NOT ALONE

   Priest or clergy sex abuse cases can be some of the most devastating to the victims. In these cases the victims put their trust and faith in a member of the clergy only to be exploited sexually and left to feel a lifetime of guilt and loss of trust.  From roughly the 1950’s to the 1980’s, child sexual abuse by clergy occurred across the country virtually unchecked.  Churches, including but not limited to the Catholic Church, hid allegations of sexual abuse and fellow parishioners often failed to believe the victim or blamed the victim for the abuse.  Therefore, while child sexual abuse pervaded churches during this time period, victims faced significant barriers to reporting the abuse and receiving care for the emotional harm caused by the abuse.  It is clear that the Catholic Church put its reputation ahead of innocent victims for many years by hiding abuse committed by its employees.

            In the past, adult victims of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of clergy members would have been barred from suing the perpetrators and their employers—generally, a church or religious order--by state statutes of limitations and repose. However, when a victim of childhood sexual abuse cannot discover his or her injury, based on the unique damage associated with childhood abuse and the refusal of church authorities to disclose the actions of their clergy, then the law must accommodate that plaintiff.  The Chicago law firm of Hurley McKenna & Mertz is dedicated to fighting for the right of victims of sexual abuse to finally get the truth from the religious institutions who have so far fought to protect the abusers, and not the abused.

            Hurley McKenna & Mertz is experienced in handling a wide variety of sexual abuse cases, including cases against the Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Irish Christian Brothers and the Boy Scouts of America.  For example, Hurley McKenna & Mertz obtained a record $12 Million settlement from the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago on behalf of three children permanently injured by severe abuse.

            Christopher T. Hurley attended Catholic grade school in Chicago, graduated from La Lumiere, a Catholic high school in Indiana, and later obtained his law degree from Loyola University College of Law in Chicago.  Mark R. McKenna attended St. Laurence High School, an Irish Christian Brothers school in Chicago.  Chris and Mark are experienced trial lawyers who have represented many victims of abuse. 

              Even if the abuse occurred  long ago, you may still be able to pursue claims against the religious organizations involved in the abuse.  If you are a victim of sexual abuse or are inquiring on behalf of a friend or family member who has suffered a sexual assault, contact Hurley McKenna & Mertz immediately to confidentially discuss these claims.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE