August 10, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Following overwhelming support and being passed by the Louisiana Legislative Committee in May , the Louisiana Senate unanimously voted, 32-0, to remove the statute of limitations for child sex abuse victims to pursue civil claims in court. In addition, the passage of House Bill 492, also opens a 3-year revival window, allowing survivors with older child sex abuse claims that may have previously been time-barred, to bring a claim in court, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Kentucky Governor Signs New Child Abuse Bills into Law but State Still Falls Short
August 12, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
In April of 2021, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed House Bill 254 into law which enhances the penalties against predators who possess, view or distribute sexually exploitive material of a child younger than 12, making it a Class C felony and raising it to a Class B felony for subsequent offenses.
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Louisiana Legislature Passes Bill Providing Victims of Sexual Abuse Relief from Filing Deadlines
August 10, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Following overwhelming support and being passed by the Louisiana Legislative Committee in May , the Louisiana Senate unanimously voted, 32-0, to remove the statute of limitations for child sex abuse victims to pursue civil claims in court. In addition, the passage of House Bill 492, also opens a 3-year revival window, allowing survivors with older child sex abuse claims that may have previously been time-barred, to bring a claim in court, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.
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Maine Passes Child Sexual Abuse SOL Reform
July 20, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Maine Governor Janet Mills recently signed into law a bill that will allow survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits against their perpetrators no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. While the state did eliminate the state of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims in 2000, that law was not retroactive so survivors whose claims were expired at that point could not bring them forward.
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Governor Signs Bill Eliminating Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sex Abuse Survivors
June 21, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits
Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 73 into law in April 2021 which eliminates the civil statute of limitations for sexual assault of minors and adults. One of the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, said of the new law, “Victims deserve justice whenever they choose to seek it. Outdated laws won’t be able to stop them anymore.”
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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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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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Pennsylvania Department of State Drops Ball on Constitutional Amendment
April 2, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
At the beginning of 2021, the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee overwhelmingly passed legislation focused on creating a revival window for child sexual abuse survivors. After passing the General Assembly in February, the bill should have been included on the May 2021 ballot so, if passed, the state’s constitution could be amended.
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