Recent decades have brought the disgrace of clergy abuse out of secrecy and into the public domain. Brave survivors have come forward to tell their stories, exposing abusive clergy people and complicit religious institutions. White Law PLLC is here to help those survivors secure justice for the pain and many losses they sustained from clergy abuse and its devastating effects.
If you or someone you love has been hurt by clergy abuse, connect with a South Lyon sexual abuse lawyer from our team. Various national and local media sources have recognized us as among the most respected firms in the legal industry. Trust a South Lyon clergy abuse lawyer to handle your case with great care, working to get you the justice you deserve.
Warning Signs of Clergy Abuse in South Lyon
survivors often second guess themselves, wondering if what they experienced was actually abuse, and predators possess excellent skills in gaslighting and intimidating survivors.
If something feels wrong, do not doubt your instincts–talk to a South Lyon personal injury lawyer who will review your case for free and help you determine the next steps.
Behavioral Red Flags
Recognizing behavioral red flags among clergy can help you keep yourself and others safe.
Common signs of clergy abuse include:
- Jokes not appropriate from a religious leader
- Private meetings held between a leader and the parishioner alone
- Inappropriate touching or other physical interaction
- Negative talk about other parishioners–abusers use this technique to “connect” with survivors
- Requests for graphic, personal details during private meetings or any conversation
If you or someone you know
endured clergy sex abuse,
contact White Law PLLC today.
Why Clergy Abuse Is so Traumatizing
Parishioners often revere clergy as wise teachers and divinely appointed spiritual guides, giving them a sacred trust. By abusing parishioners, clergy people destroy that trust.
Survivors not only experience the physical trauma of the abuse but sustain the intense emotional and psychological damage that comes from such a profound betrayal and question beliefs that have shaped their entire lives.
Most headlines tell stories of clergy sexual abuse typically inflicted on children by Catholic clergy. These now-adult survivors have suffered from the effects of their abuse for decades.
Child sexual abuse is one of the worst forms of clergy abuse, but sadly, is not the only one, and examining the pervasiveness in clergy abuse across religions shows that the problem extends far beyond the Catholic Church.
A clergy abuse lawyer in South Lyon, MI, can help you no matter what type of abuse you have experienced. Sometimes, clergy manipulate parishioners into handing over large sums of money, other times, they may use physical violence to intimidate survivors.
As spiritual leaders, clergy can also use spiritual manipulation to get what they want from survivors–perhaps promising them blessings or threatening them with divine consequences for failing to deliver.
Signs of Sexual Abuse in Children
According to the Rape, Incest & Abuse National Network (RAINN), signs that a child may be experiencing abuse include:
- Behavior changes, perhaps showing aggression
- Not wanting to be left alone with clergy they used to trust
- Sexual knowledge is not appropriate for their age and developmental stage
- Decline in academic progress
- Changes in eating, sleeping, and hygiene routines
- Comments about sharing secrets or having special meetings
You can contact our clergy sex abuse
lawyers today and rest easier with
experienced attorneys tackling your case.
What to Do After Experiencing Clergy Abuse
Your safety is the top priority after experiencing abuse, so if your abuse is physical or sexual, get medical care right away. White Law PLLC can also explain how to report clergy sex abuse in Michigan, and filing that official complaint with law enforcement is an important step in bringing abusers to justice.
Your clergy abuse attorney in South Lyon, MI, will inform you of legal options for victims of clergy abuse and also connect you with supportive resources as you work through the effects of abuse.
Law enforcement will handle the criminal aspect of your abuse, and our team will manage your civil claim. We will investigate your situation to find evidence against your abuser and support your claim, file your claim with the court, and calculate the value of your losses.
After sending the abuser’s representative a demand for compensation, we will work to negotiate a fair settlement, but if the abuser does not cooperate and offer justice, we will be ready to fight for you in court.
Your clergy abuse lawyer in South Lyon, MI, understands how difficult it is for you to talk about your abuse and will treat you with respect and compassion as you reveal those details.
We recognize your testimony as evidence of your courage and acknowledge the power your words have in bringing about justice. When you join forces with our team, you can count on superior legal representation and loyal, personal support.
Compensation Available to Clergy Abuse Victims
Your attorney will examine the effects your abuse had on you, accounting for every loss in calculating a settlement demand. Since many of the losses sustained do not come with an invoice, you need an experienced attorney to make those assessments so you do not accept less than you deserve.
Every clergy abuse case is different, and the specifics of each situation affect settlement or trial award amounts, so it is not possible to present an average expected amount.
Most likely, your lawyer will seek damages to cover or acknowledge your:
- Medical bills for treating injuries, sexually transmitted diseases, or other physical consequences of the abuse
- Counseling expenses to cover emotional and psychological treatment
- Lost wages for time missed at work or tuition if you had to leave school
- Finances your abuser coerced from you
- Lost opportunities if the abuse prevented you from reaching your full potential
- Physical pain and emotional and psychological distress
- Reduced quality of life
White Law PLLC Stands With Survivors
White Law PLLC stands with clergy abuse survivors–you deserve justice, and we are ready to fight for it. We are finally seeing predators have to pay for the damage they have caused, and our team will continue to work to hold them accountable.
Partner with a South Lyon sexual abuse attorney from our firm, and we will work toward healing and justice together.
You have the right to reach out to
a clergy sex abuse attorney and
discuss your right to legal action.
