Clergy Abuse and Child Sexual Assault Lawsuits
At Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. our Maryland sexual abuse lawyers understand the courage it takes for survivors to come forward and seek justice. We are dedicated to supporting our clients through every step of the legal process and working tirelessly to ensure that their voices are heard.
Unwanted sexual contact, touching or other abusive behavior can have a long-lasting physical and emotional impact. In many situations, the assault may have been prevented if a responsible organization or employer had taken different actions.
It is not too late to seek justice!
A sexual abuse lawsuit not only provides financial compensation, but helps ensure that steps are taken by organizations to avoid similar conduct by predators placed in a position of trust, such as:
- Clergy, Priests or Other Church Officials
- Club Leaders, Counselors or Other Youth Group Volunteers
- Teachers, Coaches or Other Figures of Authority
- Doctors, Therapists, Nursing Homes or Other Treatment Providers
- Uber, Lyft or Other Ride Share Service Drivers
It is our mission to hold perpetrators of childhood sexual abuse and the organizations that enabled the conduct accountable, and help survivors get the justice and compensation they deserve.
While no amount of money can ever truly compensate for the harm and suffering caused by sexual abuse, pursuing legal action can help survivors take back control of their lives and send a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.
Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023
In response to mounting evidence involving clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Maryland legislature has passed the Child Victims Act of 2023, which now allows survivors of childhood sex abuse to pursue a lawsuit, regardless how long ago the abuse occurred.
The new Maryland law will:
- Remove the Maryland child sex abuse lawsuit statute of limitations, allowing previously barred claims to now be pursued; and
- Increases the maximum non-economic damage settlement for sex abuse in Maryland to $1.5 million for claims against the Catholic Church and other private institutions, or $890,000 for claims against public schools, state or local government entitles
April 11, 2023 Update: Governor Wes Moore has signed the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023, which will go into effect on October 1, 2023.
Our Message to Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
You Are Not Alone
If you or a family member were a victim of childhood sexual abuse, know that you are not alone. Let us help you start the healing process and to hold those responsible for the abuse accountable.
Help is Available
It takes a tremendous amount of courage to ask for help. If you are ready, we will be there to help you seek justice and compensation. After your confidential case evaluation, it is your decision whether to hire our lawyers and pursue the claim.
It May Not Be Too Late
Even if your abuse happened many years ago, it may not be too late to take back your life and pursue a claim. Filing a sex abuse lawsuit can hold your abuser accountable and uncover years of wrongdoing.
Allegations Raised in Sex Abuse Lawsuits
When a church, school or other organization fails to protect individuals from abusive behavior, they can be held legally and financially responsible for:
- Failure to conduct reasonable background checks on employees or volunteers;
- Negligent hiring, training or failure to adequately supervise;
- Failure to conduct reasonable investigation into credible allegations or suspicious behavior;
- Failure to report sexual abuse allegations or properly train employees to report conduct of co-workers;
- Negligent security to prevent criminal abuse by third parties;
No Fees or Expenses Unless You Receive a Settlement
Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. is a nationally known injury law firm that is focused exclusively on representing individuals, we do not represent corporations or insurance companies.
Over the course of more than 40 years, clients of our law firm have collected more than $1 billion in compensation in cases involving product liability, medical malpractice, automobile accidents and other personal injury lawsuits.
All sex abuse cases are being handled on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are never any out-of-pocket costs to hire our lawyers and we receive no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.
Protect your family and find out if you or a loved one may be entitled to a sexual abuse settlement.