Sexual abuse by a trusted authority figure—such as clergy members, teachers, school staff, coaches, or scout leaders—can leave lasting emotional, psychological, and financial harm. Survivors often carry the impact for years, and many do not come forward until adulthood. New York law now provides expanded pathways for survivors to pursue civil justice against both the abuser and the institutions that enabled abuse through negligent hiring, negligent supervision, or failures to act on known allegations.
Our Brooklyn clergy sex abuse lawyers represent survivors across Brooklyn, Staten Island, and New York City in claims involving churches, dioceses, private schools, public schools, youth organizations, and scouting programs. These cases may involve misconduct by priests, pastors, ministers, rabbis, teachers, administrators, scoutmasters, volunteers, or other individuals placed in positions of trust. The legal focus is often not only on the perpetrator, but also on institutional accountability—when a church, school, or organization knew or should have known about risk factors or prior complaints and failed to protect children or vulnerable individuals.
Public reporting has underscored the scale of institutional abuse in New York. For example, The New York Times reported on February 15, 2019 that the Brooklyn Catholic Diocese released a list naming more than 100 priests accused of sexual abuse, covering decades of allegations tied to neighborhood parishes and schools across Brooklyn and Queens. That reporting highlighted how institutional systems can fail survivors—and why civil claims can be an important path to accountability and financial recovery.
Survivors may be entitled to compensation for therapy and mental health treatment, medical care, lost income, diminished earning capacity, emotional distress, and other damages. Our attorneys handle these cases with discretion and respect, and we can help you understand your legal options, preserve evidence, and move forward at your pace.
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse by clergy, a teacher, or a scout leader, you deserve to be heard—and you deserve answers. We offer confidential consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no legal fee unless we recover compensation for you.
What qualifies as clergy, school, or scout sexual abuse?
Clergy, school, or scout sexual abuse can include unwanted sexual touching, sexual assault, coercion, exploitation, grooming, or any sexual misconduct by a trusted authority figure such as a priest, pastor, teacher, coach, staff member, or scout leader.
Can I file a civil lawsuit even if the abuse happened years ago?
In many cases, yes. New York law provides expanded options for survivors to pursue civil claims depending on the facts, the age of the survivor at the time of abuse, and the applicable legal deadlines. Speaking with an attorney can clarify what timelines may apply.
Who can be held responsible in a clergy or institutional abuse case?
Liability may include the individual abuser and any institution that enabled abuse through negligent hiring, negligent supervision, failure to investigate complaints, failure to warn, or failure to protect children and vulnerable individuals.
What if the abuse happened at a church school or youth organization?
Claims may involve the organization that operated the school or program, along with any supervising entities, depending on the structure. These cases often focus on prior complaints, internal policies, and whether leadership failed to act on warning signs.
What compensation can survivors recover in a sex abuse lawsuit?
Depending on the case, survivors may seek compensation for therapy and counseling, medical care, lost income, diminished earning capacity, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and other damages tied to the abuse and its long-term impact.
Will my case be kept confidential?
Sex abuse claims are handled with discretion. While every case is different, attorneys can discuss privacy concerns, confidentiality options, and how information may be handled during the legal process.
What should I do if I’m not sure whether I have a case?
You can start with a confidential consultation. An attorney can listen, explain potential legal options, discuss timelines, and help you decide the next step—without pressure.