July 13, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is defending himself again against a second allegation of sexual abuse while serving in the Archdiocese of Newark. The first accusation came in 2019. Mark Matzek, a then 56-year-old man, accused DiMarzio and a second priest, Rev. Albert Mark (deceased) of repeated abuse while he was an altar boy at St. Nicholas Church and a student at St. Nicholas School. The second accusation of abuse was made by Samier Tadros, 46. On March 9, the Associated Press reported that Tadros’s attorney notified the Newark Archdiocese’s attorneys of the accusation. Samier Tadros claims he was sexually abused repeatedly at Holy Rosary Church in Jersey City when he was 6 years old.
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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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Hundreds of Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Filed in 2020 Against Catholic Church in New Jersey
April 1, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
More than 230 sexual abuse lawsuits were filed against the five Catholic dioceses in New Jersey from December 2019 to December 2020. The large number of lawsuits directly coincides with the state’s extension of its statute of limitations laws in civil actions for sexual abuse claims as well as its opening of a revival window which allows time barred claims to be brought before a specific date. The New Jersey revival window is set to close on November 30, 2021. Since it can often take years before a sexual abuse survivor feels comfortable enough to talk about being abused, extending the statute of limitations and opening the revival window gives victims an opportunity to receive some justice for what was done to them.
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Dioceses of Camden Files for Bankruptcy
February 5, 2021 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
On Oct. 1, 2020, the Diocese of Camden filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A press release subsequent to the filing cited COVID-19, payments already made through the Victims Compensation Program, and state legislative changes regarding the statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims as the reasons the Diocese sought bankruptcy protection.
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Survivor Payments Suspended by Camden Diocese IVCP
November 5, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Survivors who chose to seek clergy abuse compensation from the Diocese of Camden through the Independent Victim Compensation Program (“IVCP”) will have to wait a little longer. In July, the diocese suspended making new payments through its Independent Victim Compensation Program (“IVCP”). Camden diocese officials told program administrators Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille Biros the suspension was necessary because of a “precipitous decline in revenue resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic”.
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How Long Do I Have to File a Clergy Abuse Lawsuit in New Jersey?
November 4, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
How long you have to file a clergy abuse lawsuit in New Jersey is a common question. For some New Jersey clergy abuse survivors, it may take years, even decades to recall the abuse since traumatic events suffered as a child are often suppressed. Even those who haven’t blocked those memories often still need many years to process the pain and receive treatment or counseling before they are ready to share their stories.
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Lawsuit Alleges Former Cardinal McCarrick Involved in ‘Sex Ring’
September 30, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A lawsuit has been filed in New Jersey Superior Court against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick for what’s being called a ‘sex ring’. The lawsuit is being brought by one of the survivors, who chose to remain anonymous, but is referenced as “Doe 14” in court documents. The complaint alleges Doe 14 was groomed to be part of a sex ring scheme that was headed up by then Bishop McCarrick. The complaint notes the scheme perpetuated over dozens of years and included multiple minors, some of which were seminarians, or those studying to become priests.
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Feeney Law Firm Client Files Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Defrocked Cardinal McCarrick
August 28, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A former altar boy has filed a lawsuit against defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and the Diocese of Metuchen. Geoffrey Downs, who is represented by Derek Braslow and the Feeney Law Firm, is accusing McCarrick of sexually abusing him as a teenager prior to mass.
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New Jersey Extended the Civil Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse Claims
July 29, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
On May 13, 2019, the Governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, signed S477 which extended the statute of limitations in civil actions for sexual abuse claims.
The Act extends the ability of a child victim to file a lawsuit claim until they reach 55 years old, or 7 years from the date they became aware of the abuse, whichever is later. This is a significant step forward.
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Diocese of Trenton Facing Multiple Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
July 14, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Trenton is facing at least 10 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse; all filed by the same attorney. Over the almost last two decades since the Boston Globe expose in 2002, the public has become more aware of the Roman Catholic Church’s ongoing cover-up of child abuse. What the Diocese of Trenton is facing is the increased pressure from state officials , state office, and plaintiff attorneys seeking accountability and justice.
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Former New Jersey Priest Accused A Second Time of Sexual Abuse
July 13, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is defending himself again against a second allegation of sexual abuse while serving in the Archdiocese of Newark. The first accusation came in 2019. Mark Matzek, a then 56-year-old man, accused DiMarzio and a second priest, Rev. Albert Mark (deceased) of repeated abuse while he was an altar boy at St. Nicholas Church and a student at St. Nicholas School. The second accusation of abuse was made by Samier Tadros, 46. On March 9, the Associated Press reported that Tadros’s attorney notified the Newark Archdiocese’s attorneys of the accusation. Samier Tadros claims he was sexually abused repeatedly at Holy Rosary Church in Jersey City when he was 6 years old.
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New Jersey Lawsuit Claims Allentown Diocese Covered Up 30 Years of Sexual Abuse
April 17, 2020 / by Brett Katsma / Catholic Church Sexual Abuse
A lawsuit filed in New Jersey by a former Diocese of Allentown altar boy claims that the diocese failed to protect him as he was sexually abused for decades. The $50 million suit contends diocese officials turned their backs on the victim and failed to protect him from the abuse even after knowing his abuser was a pedophile.
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