Clergy members in churches are supposed to assist in strengthening your faith. But when you suffer sexual abuse, it can shake the foundation of your faith and even yourself. Our team is sorry for the trauma you’ve endured, and we’re ready to help however we can.
At White Law PLLC, our clergy sex abuse lawyers in Alpena, MI, are dedicated to holding the clergy members accountable for their careless acts. We offer a free consultation in which we can tell you if you have a valid case and help you with the next steps.
The Effects of Clergy Sexual Abuse
As a survivor of clergy sex abuse, you most likely have physical and mental effects from the abuse. This type of abuse can cause you to be traumatized and struggle to return to your daily life. Some of these effects are temporary, while others may be lifelong.
As a result, you may develop trauma-induced symptoms such as:
- Post-traumatic-stress-disorder
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Behavioral issues
- Eating disorders or poor body image
- Distrust of people
- Guilt
- Poor memory
There are many other effects of clergy sexual abuse. Before reaching out to a clergy sexual abuse lawyer, you should seek medical help, including therapy, if you feel that you need it. After you do, we can help you determine if you have a valid clergy abuse case.
If you or someone you know
endured clergy sex abuse,
contact White Law PLLC today.
When To File Your Clergy Sex Abuse Claim
In Michigan, you have 10 years from the abuse to file a clergy sex abuse claim. But if you were under 18 during the abuse, you can file your claim until your 28th birthday. In both scenarios, it seems that you have plenty of time, and you may consider waiting to file your claim.
However, clergy sex abuse claims can take a while to resolve or obtain a settlement for if our lawyers have to contact the abusers. For this reason, among others, our clergy sex abuse attorneys in Alpena, MI, encourage you to file your claim as soon as possible.
By filing early, you have a higher chance of recovering the maximum compensation amount and the insurance company working on your claim faster. A clergy sexual abuse attorney from our law can help you understand exactly how long you have to file.
Many states are starting to revise the statutes of limitations they have in place. With what we’ve seen, we have hope that Michigan will also change its statute of limitations. If you suffered clergy abuse and it has been three years since it occurred, or you are older than 28, contact us, and we may still be able to help you with your claim.
You can contact our clergy sex abuse
lawyers today and rest easier with
experienced attorneys tackling your case.
Damages a Clergy Sex Abuse Lawyer in Alpena, MI Can Help You Recover
Our team of clergy sex abuse attorneys in Alpena, MI, understands that recovering your losses will never make up for what you experienced as a survivor of clergy abuse. But the stress of the trauma of sexual abuse, medical bills, and other costs can be overwhelming.
If you have a case, we can help you recover economic and non-economic damages. Common damages in clergy sex abuse cases include:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
If your injuries are especially severe, you may be eligible for additional damages. Our lawyers can examine your situation in a free case evaluation and give you an estimate of your damages.
How a Lawyer From Our Team Can Help
Navigating the legal process after suffering clergy sex abuse can be extremely difficult without a lawyer. You already have enough stress to deal with; you shouldn’t exhaust yourself by attempting to hold the clergy accountable; our lawyers can help. We can help you with a wide range of legal tasks, some of which include:
Negotiating a Fair Settlement
Due to the widespread sexual abuse within the clergy, many churches purchase insurance specifically for sexual abuse claims. So after the abuse, you and your clergy sex abuse lawyer in Alpena, MI, will have to meet with the insurance company.
Our lawyers are already prepared for the church’s insurance company to deny the allegations and try to offer you a lowball settlement. So we’ll have the evidence ready to present to the insurance adjuster.
Most clergy sex abuse cases don’t go to trial, so the church will offer you an amount of money for a settlement. They do this to avoid negative effects on their reputation because the church is supposed to be a moral high ground.
Gathering Evidence
Another legal task our legal team of clergy abuse lawyers can help you with is gathering evidence to support your claim. You must have strong evidence supporting your abuse experience to win a case. Our clergy sex abuse attorneys in Alpena, MI, can gather evidence such as:
- Witness statements
- Therapist notes
- Medical records
- Photos of your injuries, if applicable
- DNA of the clergy member
- Security camera footage of surrounding businesses
We store all of the evidence digitally, if possible, so it’s encrypted in the cloud. With the encryption, it allows us to securely transfer the data to other lawyers and law enforcement if necessary. So when you work with our team, you can feel confident that your evidence is secure.
Providing Legal Advice
Our lead attorney at White Law PLLC has proudly represented victims in sexual abuse cases that are nationally recognized, including representing hundreds of Boy Scouts of America victims and clergy sex abuse victims. With this, we have ample experience with clergy sex abuse cases, so we’ll be able to answer all your questions about your case throughout the process.
If this is your first legal case, understand how overwhelming it can be. We’ll take your case step by step and explain why we’re taking certain actions. Our lawyers are here to help you with your case, and you are our priority.
We can help you decide how to structure your settlement, argue for certain damages, and even seek medical help.
Helpful Resources After You’ve Suffered Clergy Sex Abuse
In the aftermath of clergy sexual abuse, you may not know what to do next or feel uncomfortable sharing your story with anyone. Our lawyers have compiled a list of helpful resources you can use to get support during this difficult time:
- Catholic Church Clergy Abuse
- Resources for Survivors
- After Sexual Assault | RAINN
- About the Hotline
We hope these resources are helpful to you and can help you feel less overwhelmed in this situation.
Contact Us to Start Your Clergy Sex Abuse Claim in Alpena
At White Law PLLC, we’re ready to take on your case and work with you to recover the damages you’re eligible for. We take clergy sex abuse cases seriously and hold all the liable parties accountable.
Call us or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule a free case consultation with one of our clergy sex abuse lawyers in Alpena, MI.
You have the right to reach out to
a clergy sex abuse attorney and
discuss your right to legal action.
