September 14, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Airbnb Sexual Assaults
Airbnb paid an Australian woman, who was raped in a property rented via the site, $7 million as a settlement. The attack occurred in 2015 on New Year’s Eve in New York City. The victim and her friends picked up the keys to the property at a bodega near the apartment. It appears as though the attacker managed to make a copy of the keys at some point and hid in bathroom while the victim was out.
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Diocese of Oakland Files for Bankruptcy
May 25, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Earlier this month, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland issued a press release stating that the Diocese of Oakland would be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The release cites the more than 330 lawsuits filed against the diocese alleging clergy sexual abuse as the reason for the bankruptcy. The Diocese of Oakland is not […]
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Judge Recuses Himself from Overseeing New Orleans Archdiocese Bankruptcy Proceedings
May 23, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In May of 2020, the Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for bankruptcy protection after 400-plus clergy sexual abuse lawsuits were filed against it. The sheer number of lawsuits is staggering …
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Redacted Names Lead to Frustration with Baltimore Archdiocese
May 11, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse, Default Category
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office released its long-awaited report into clergy sexual abuse of children within the Archdiocese of Baltimore in early April. The report details 80 years of clergy sexual abuse of more than 600 children within the archdiocese. It also describes the archdiocese’s knowledge concerning clergy abuse and its attempts to cover-up what […]
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Attorney General Report Shows Prosecutors Allowed Church to Hide Abusive Clergy
May 10, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Father William Q. Simms was one of many clergy members named as an abuser in the Maryland Attorney General’s report on child sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Unfortunately, the story of how Simms continued to have access to children, even after several allegations of sexual abuse, is not an aberration. The attorney general’s […]
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Hadden Survivors Reached $235 Million Settlement with Hospitals; Still Time for Others
May 10, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In 2022, both Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital reached a combined $165 million settlement with almost 150 women who were sexually abused by former OBGYN Robert Hadden. This agreement follows a $71.5 million combined settlement in 2021 between the hospitals and 79 of Hadden’s survivors. A compensation fund was established to […]
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Lawsuit accuses San Diego Diocese of Fraudulently Transferring Assets
April 27, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A lawsuit was filed against the Diocese of San Diego less than two weeks after the diocese said it was contemplating filing for bankruptcy protection. The suit accuses the diocese of fraudulently transferring assets in order to avoid paying large settlements to survivors of clergy sexual abuse. In 2019, California opened a 3-year revival window […]
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San Diego Diocese Considering Bankruptcy, Church Blames Clergy Sex Abuse Claims
April 13, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego recently stated it may choose to file for bankruptcy in the coming months; blaming the number of clergy sexual abuse cases filed against it. A letter from Bishop Robert McElroy to parishioners said the “staggering” legal costs of dealing with roughly 400 clergy sexual abuse lawsuits has put […]
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Former OBGYN Robert Hadden Served No Jail Time Despite Guilty Plea in 2016
April 12, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In 2015, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office prosecuted Robert Hadden, an OBGYN accused of sexually abusing several patients. One woman told prosecutors she was 30-weeks pregnant when Hadden assaulted her. According to court records, the District Attorney’s Office had 18 other women willing to testify they suffered similar assaults at the hands of Hadden over […]
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Disgraced OBGYN Robert Hadden Convicted, Civil Remedy for Victims Still Possible
April 12, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In late January of this year, a jury took less than a day to convict former Columbia University OBGYN Robert Hadden of federal sex trafficking charges. Hadden’s two-week criminal trial included testimony from nine former patients who described how the former OBGYN sexually abused them during appointments. Prosecutors said federal charges were appropriate because Hadden […]
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Victims of former OBGYN, Robert Hadden, Can Still Have Their Day in Court
March 30, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In January of this year, several ex-patients testified at former Columbia University OBGYN Robert Hadden’s criminal trial where he was charged with persuading women to cross state lines for the purpose of sexually abusing them. Their stories of abuse span a 20-year period and include both adults and minors. The women shared intimate details with […]
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Maryland Senate Passes Legislation that would remove SOL for Child Abuse Victims
March 28, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Child Victims Act of 2023 (also known as House Bill 1) overwhelmingly passed in the Maryland Senate by a 42-5 margin. The bill, which had been gaining momentum since the new year, would eliminate the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. It would also be enacted retroactively, which means that survivors of childhood […]
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Worcester Diocese Declines to Name Abusive Priests in Report
February 10, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Worcester recently released a new report about clergy sexual abuse of minors between 1950 and 2022. However, that report failed to include the names of the priests . . .
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Maine Diocese Challenges Law Removing Statue of Limitations
February 2, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Portland is challenging the constitutionality of the new law and trying to get the lawsuits dismissed . . .
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Bill Seeking to Remove Statute of Limitations is Gaining Momentum in Maryland
January 26, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Maryland clergy sex abuse survivors are hoping for justice with new legislation on the horizon . . .
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Revival Window Bill Moving Through State Senate in Pennsylvania
January 25, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
New House Speaker Mark Rozzi recently vowed that no other legislation would be taken up until the Senate approved a constitutional amendment allowing child sex abuse victims to file claims . . .
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Diocese of Columbus Adds Priest to Credibly Accused List
January 24, 2023 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Columbus added Rev. Dean A. Mathewson to its list of priests credibly accused of child sexual abuse . . .
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Archdiocese of Santa Fe Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan Filed with Court
December 13, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has finally filed its bankruptcy reorganization plan four years after filing for Chapter 11 protection . . .
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Maryland AG Investigation Reports Over 600 Victims of Clergy Abuse
December 8, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh’s office finally produced a report over three years after his office first announced it would begin investigating clergy sex abuse . . .
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Survivors Deliver List of Over 300 Abusive Priests to Archbishop
November 3, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), as well as other survivors of clergy sexual abuse , delivered a list of 312 clergy and lay people publicly accused of sexual abuse . . .
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Bankruptcy Judge Says ‘No’ to Paying Accused Priests
November 1, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill has ordered the Archdiocese of New Orleans to stop paying retirement benefits to five priests who have been accused of sexually abusing minors . . .
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Revival Windows Don’t Bring Justice for Every Survivor
November 1, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Clergy sexual abuse survivor Robert Kapal is out of legal options to file a civil claim against his abuser and the organization which allowed him to be sexually abused . . .
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Former New Bedford Priest Sued for Sexual Abuse
September 29, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse, Default Category
Former altar boy Jason Medeiros filed a lawsuit claiming that Rev. Richard Degagne sexually abused him on multiple occasions . . .
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Albany Abuse Survivor Encourages Transparency from Diocese
September 21, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In a lawsuit filed against the Diocese of Albany and former priest Mark Haight, clergy sex abuse survivor . . .
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Maryland Clergy Abuse Survivors Frustrated with Attorney General
September 20, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Three years after Maryland’s Attorney General, Brian Frosh, announced he was beginning an investigation into Catholic Church clergy sex abuse, survivors are still waiting to see results . . .
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Albany Diocese Seeks to Pause Litigation with Sexual Abuse Survivors
September 16, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Attorneys for more than 400 clergy sexual abuse survivors in Albany, New York, denied the diocese’s request to pause litigation . . .
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Massachusetts’ High Court Says Clergy Abuse Suit Accusing Former Bishop Can Move Forward
September 16, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the highest court in the commonwealth, upheld a lower court’s ruling which will allow a clergy sexual abuse claim to move forward . . .
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FBI Opens Investigation into Catholic Church in New Orleans
August 25, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The FBI has opened an investigation into the Catholic Church in New Orleans regarding allegations of sexual abuse of children going back decades.
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Priest Believes Church Still Needs to Apologize for Sexual Abuse Scandal
August 23, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
It’s been 20 years since the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People”, which called for zero tolerance for priests who sexually abuse children. Jesuit Father Jerry McGlone is concerned about the psychological effects the anniversary could have on survivors. McGlone has a keen insight into […]
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First Lawsuits Filed Against Portland Diocese Since Law Change
August 16, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In July 2021, Governor Janet Mills signed a bill into law which eliminated Maine’s statute of limitations laws for child sexual abuse. A year later, the first child sexual abuse lawsuits to take advantage of the new law were filed against the Diocese of Portland.
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New Phoenix Bishop Aims for Transparency with Sex Abuse Investigations
August 16, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
John P. Dolan, the new bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, said the diocese will attempt to be transparent when it comes to investigations of clergy sex abuse.
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Wisconsin Clergy Abuse Survivors Say AG Not Following Through on Promise to Investigate
July 8, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A year ago, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said he would investigate the state’s Catholic dioceses regarding clergy sexual abuse of children. A year later, unlike the successful Pennsylvania Attorney General investigation, clergy sexual abuse survivors in Wisconsin are claiming Kaul’s office has failed them.
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Archdiocese of Philadelphia has Paid Over $78 Million to Clergy Abuse Survivors
July 8, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Three and a half years ago, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia set up the Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program (IRRP). A final report released by the IRRP showed that the archdiocese paid out $78 million . . .
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Ruling Allows Rochester Abuse Survivors to Sue Diocese
June 23, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A ruling by a federal bankruptcy judge will allow clergy sexual abuse survivors to move forward with lawsuits against the Diocese of Rochester.
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NY Governor Signs Adult Survivors Act into Law
June 17, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed into law the Adult Survivors Act. Similar to the state’s 2019 Child Victims Act, the law opens up a one-year revival window for adult survivors of sexual assault.
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Clergy Sex Abuse Survivor Asking Ohio Lawmakers to Update Statute of Limitations Laws
June 15, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Neyer is seeking more accountability from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, as well as asking lawmakers to reform the state’s current child sex abuse statute of limitations laws.
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Providence Diocese Accused of Victim Blaming in Lawsuit
June 2, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A recently filed lawsuit by a clergy sexual abuse survivor accuses the leaders of the Rhode Island Catholic Church of “victim blaming” and ignoring multiple allegations of sexual abuse of children by clergy.
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Nebraska Lawmaker’s Death May Halt Child Sex Abuse SOL Reform Bill
June 2, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
In late 2021, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson’s office released the results of its investigation into clergy sex abuse and the Catholic dioceses in the state.
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New Mexico Diocese Announces $121.5 Million Settlement
May 27, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe, one of the oldest dioceses in the United States, announced it had reached a settlement agreement with survivors of clergy sexual abuse in order to resolve its bankruptcy protection filing.
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Diocese of Albany Adds Priest to Credibly Accused List
May 26, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Albany recently added retired priest Father Gregory Weider for “reasonable cause” to its list of priests credibly accused of sexual abuse.
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Investigation Finds Southern Baptist Leaders Covered Up Sex Abuse Claims
May 25, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Religious Institutions Sexual Abuse & Assault
A third-party investigation, done at the request of Southern Baptists, found that for almost twenty years, leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention were ignoring claims regarding a sexual abuse epidemic within the community.
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Archdiocese of Chicago Settles Abuse Claim for $1.2 Million
May 24, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Abuse Claim Against Defrocked Priest Settled for $1.2 Million
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Louisiana Opens Revival Window
May 17, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Louisiana opened a three-year revival window which gives sexual abuse survivors with expired civil claims the ability to file them.
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Over 800 Sex Abuse Lawsuits Filed in New Jersey Since Revival Window Opened
January 12, 2022 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Since December 1, 2019, when New Jersey opened a two-year revival window for victims of sexual abuse, 820 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse against clerics, teachers, and nuns have been filed against Catholic dioceses and orders.
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Sex Abuse SOL Reform Law Takes Effect Mid-October in Maine
October 19, 2021 / by Christina Feeney / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Maine sexual abuse survivor Robert Dupuis was only 12 years old in 1961 when Rev. John J. Curran began sexually abusing him.
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Michigan Lawmakers Consider Extending Time for Child Sex Abuse Victims to Bring Lawsuits
September 30, 2021 / by Christina Feeney / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
The Michigan Legislature is considering bipartisan bills which, if passed, would give survivors of sexual abuse more time to bring their claims forward and file lawsuits against their abusers in the state of Michigan. The current law caps the civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse at age 28, which is on the lower end of the spectrum when compared to other states around the country.
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Woman Sues Airbnb for 2016 Sexual Assault
September 30, 2021 / by Christina Feeney / Airbnb Sexual Assaults
In 2017, Leslie Lapayowker filed a lawsuit against Airbnb seeking to hold the company accountable for her sexual assault. The claim contends that the company was negligent in allowing her to rent a room from Carlos Del Olmo, a man who was previously accused of domestic violence.
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Airbnb Will Not Enforce Arbitration Clause
September 28, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Airbnb Sexual Assaults
Airbnb recently announced it will no longer enforce the mandatory arbitration clause in its terms of service for claims of sexual assault and harassment. Previously, in order to register on the site, users had to agree to the terms of service which was over 40 pages long.
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Airbnb Spends Millions to Keep Sexual Assault Allegations Out of Public Eye
September 15, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Airbnb Sexual Assaults
A recent report by Bloomberg stated the shocking news that Airbnb, the online marketplace for lodging and rentals, receives thousands of sexual assault allegations every year from both guests and hosts, but the public only becomes aware of very few of them.
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Airbnb Pays Rape Victim $7 Million
September 14, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Airbnb Sexual Assaults
Airbnb paid an Australian woman, who was raped in a property rented via the site, $7 million as a settlement. The attack occurred in 2015 on New Year’s Eve in New York City. The victim and her friends picked up the keys to the property at a bodega near the apartment. It appears as though the attacker managed to make a copy of the keys at some point and hid in bathroom while the victim was out.
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Boy Scouts of America Agrees to $850 Million Settlement for Child Sex Abuse Victims
August 16, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
After lawyers for sex abuse victims argued that the original offer from the Boy Scouts to settle child sex abuse claims was too low, the parties announced on July 1, 2021 that they reached an agreement.
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