Survivors, here’s what you need to know about the Chapel Street Church investigation.
Did you survive abuse from a large institution? Are you wondering what legal options you have?
Thousands of survivors have to figure this out every year. The frustrating part is that the legal process is complicated.
The good news is survivors finally have the law starting to swing in their favor.
And there’s more…
Legal changes are happening across the country. Right now is actually one of the best times to be a survivor looking for justice.
Let’s talk about what you need to know about the Chapelstreet Church Investigation.
What you’ll learn:
- Why Survivors of Institutional Abuse Deserve Justice (And How They Can Get It)
- Types Of Legal Action Survivors Can Take Against An Institution
- Survivors Of Institutional Abuse Have More Legal Options Thanks To SOL Reforms
- Everything You Need To File A Lawsuit Against An Institution
- Financial Compensation For Survivors Of Abuse
Keep reading to learn more about your options.
Why Survivors of Institutional Abuse Deserve Justice (And How They Can Get It)
Institutional abuse cases are different from your average lawsuit.
When someone abuses you as part of their job at a church, school, or youth organization… they aren’t the only one at fault.
The institution they work for is just as responsible.
Maybe they failed to run a background check. Perhaps they didn’t believe you when you reported them. It could be they were actually covering up abuse.
This is what makes cases like the Chapelstreet Church sexual abuse investigation possible.
Institutions have been ignoring and enabling abuse for way too long. Churches think they are untouchable and can get away with concealing predators.
Survivors of abuse at the Chapel Street Church have begun speaking out and filing lawsuits against the church. By coming forward, these survivors are holding the institution accountable for the actions (and inactions) of its clergy.
One thing survivors need to know is…
You have a better chance of winning a large settlement from an institution than an individual perpetrator. Institutions have more money. Survivors deserve compensation from the entity that let it happen.
Types Of Legal Action Survivors Can Take Against An Institution
There are generally two different types of legal action that can occur after a survivor has been abused.
The first option is through criminal prosecution. When a crime occurs, the government steps in and allows police and prosecutors to take over.
If they win, the offender might spend some time in jail.
Unfortunately, this happens completely outside of your control. And even if they win, survivors are rarely awarded compensation in criminal cases.
The second type of legal action are civil lawsuits.
Civil lawsuits are where survivors can take matters into their own hands. You have the power to file a claim and demand compensation from the perpetrator and the institution that allowed it to happen.
But there’s good news…
Survivors can also use civil lawsuits to force institutions to release documents and publicly expose their cover-ups. Testifying in court creates a permanent public record these large organizations wish to avoid.
Statistics show there are plenty of institutions concealing abuse.
According to one study, child advocacy centers processed over 236,000 cases of alleged child sexual abuse in 2023 alone.
Survivors Of Institutional Abuse Have More Legal Options Thanks To SOL Reforms
For many years, survivors were restricted by short statutes of limitations.
Statutes of limitations (or SOL) are deadlines for filing lawsuits.
You see, many survivors don’t come forward until years or decades after their abuse. Why?
Survivors of child sex abuse take an average of 56 years to disclose what happened to them.
That’s right… decades.
So, what happens when the SOL expires before you’re ready to tell what happened?
Traditionally, you lost your ability to sue.
But several states have begun legal reforms that give survivors a second chance.
As of now, over 30 states have passed what are known as revival laws.
Revival laws open a lookback window which allows survivors to file their claims regardless of when the abuse occurred.
Some states don’t stop there…
Maryland recently abolished their statute of limitations for child sex abuse lawsuits. California will abolish their statute of limitations for abuse occurring after January 2024.
So if you’re a survivor in one of these states, contact a lawyer to discuss your options. Don’t let another moment pass you by.
Everything You Need To File A Lawsuit Against An Institution
Filing a lawsuit against an individual predator is bad enough. Survivors often wonder how they can also sue the institution that employed them.
If your attorney can prove these elements, you’ll have a good case on your hands.
First, your attorney will need to prove that abuse occurred. This will usually come from your testimony and possibly other witnesses.
Next, they must prove that the institution had knowledge of the abuse or was negligent in some way.
Things that can help prove an institution was negligent:
- Past incidents involving the same abuser
- Documentation showing they kept inadequate records
- Witness testimony explaining how common abuse was
What many survivors don’t realize…
You don’t need to prove that the abuser was guilty in a criminal court. Just because an abuser was set free by the criminal justice system doesn’t mean you don’t have civil options.
The Chapel Street Church investigation uncovered disturbing patterns of abuse allegations which the church concealed.
Survivors coming forward helped prove this institution knew about predatory clergy but didn’t do anything about it.
Financial Compensation For Survivors Of Abuse
The first thing people want to know is…
“How much money am I going to make?”
Clearly, monetary compensation is important to survivors. But the amount you can win varies based on several factors.
Payouts fall into different categories. Things like medical bills and counseling costs would be considered economic damages. Non-economic damages cover things like pain and suffering.
In cases of gross negligence, punitive damages may be awarded.
These are basically meant to punish the institution for their lack of care.
The total settlement amounts can be quite large.
Settlements against the Catholic church alone have totaled over $5 billion since 2000.
But here’s the thing…
Most survivors don’t take these lawsuits to make money. They want their abusers to be exposed. Many survivors say just knowing the church had to admit their wrongdoing was enough.
Takeaway
If you survived abuse at the hands of an institution you have options.
Statutes of limitations are being reformed to allow more survivors to take legal action. And institutions are slowly starting to be held accountable for their roles.
Remember…
Survivors have the ability to file civil lawsuits against abusers and their institutions.
Don’t let more states passing lookback windows slip by. Institutions are abusing survivors every day, and it’s up to you to stop them.
Filing a lawsuit doesn’t mean you’ll get rich. But most of the major national organizations are carrying some form of liability insurance.
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by reaching out to a lawyer today.
