May 19, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Tucson and Los Angeles Dioceses have been accused of violating Arizona’s racketeering laws in a federal lawsuit filed at the end of 2020, which happens to coincide with the end of Arizona’s revival window. The lawsuit alleges the dioceses routinely buried allegations of priests sexually abusing children and would transfer those priests to different parishes instead of alerting law enforcement. A violation of Arizona’s racketeering law also means the state’s Attorney General could investigate the allegations as well.
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Diocese of Oakland Priest Accused of Raping Boy Decades Ago
May 28, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A recent lawsuit filed against the Diocese of Oakland accuses deceased priest Monsignor John T. McCracken of raping a young boy on multiple occasions between 1972 and 1974. It is the first time McCracken has been accused of sexual abuse of a child and his name is not on the Dioceses’ 2019 list of priests credibly accused of sexually abusing children.
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Older Survivors of Sexual Abuse Will Have to Wait for Statute Changes
May 26, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Connecticut’s current civil statute of limitations law (SOL) for childhood sexual abuse leaves older victims of abuse without an avenue to pursue justice because their claims are time-barred by the law. Unfortunately, those survivors will have to wait at least another year to see if any impactful changes will be made to those statute of limitations laws since no bill to change the SOL was introduced to the state legislature in the 2020 session.
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Wisconsin AG to Investigate State’s Catholic Dioceses
May 25, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul sent a letter to the state’s five Catholic dioceses notifying them that his office will begin an investigation into sexual abuse allegations against clergy and other faith leaders. In the letter, Kaul asked the dioceses to preserve any relevant documents or information regarding sexual abuse by clergy
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Sexual Abuse Reform Bills Currently in Massachusetts’ Legislature
May 21, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Several Bills have been filed by Massachusetts Senate and House leaders to open up avenues to civil justice for survivors of child sexual abuse. A number of these Bills propose removing the civil statute of limitations for survivors of child sexual abuse and opening up a permanent revival window for time-barred claims.
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Tucson and Los Angeles Dioceses Accused of Violating Racketeering Laws
May 19, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Tucson and Los Angeles Dioceses have been accused of violating Arizona’s racketeering laws in a federal lawsuit filed at the end of 2020, which happens to coincide with the end of Arizona’s revival window. The lawsuit alleges the dioceses routinely buried allegations of priests sexually abusing children and would transfer those priests to different parishes instead of alerting law enforcement. A violation of Arizona’s racketeering law also means the state’s Attorney General could investigate the allegations as well.
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Bill Extending Time for Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Passes Committee in Louisiana
May 13, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Bill 492 received overwhelming support and passed the Louisiana Legislative Committee and will now head to the Louisiana State Legislature House of Representatives. The Bill extends the statute of limitations (SOL) for sexual abuse survivors to 35 years after the victim’s 18th birthday.
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Arkansas Extends Age Cap to 55 and Opens Revival Window for Child Sex Abuse Victims
May 4, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
On April 30th, 2021, Arkansas legislators passed significant new law aimed at providing survivors of childhood sexual abuse a greater opportunity to hold their abusers, and those institutions responsible for allowing the abuse, accountable.
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