Kalamazoo Clergy Sex Abuse Lawyer

Sexual abuse is one of the worst types of abuse a person can endure. It can be even worse when that abuse is perpetrated by someone who claims to be doing religious works and uses that to entice unsuspecting victims for their twisted reasons. If you have suffered abuse at the hands of a clergy member, there is help available to you. 

Your Kalamazoo clergy sex abuse lawyer can help you identify all the involved parties that allowed the abuse you were forced to endure. White Law PLLC has extensive experience in handling abuse cases, including the infamous Larry Nassar sexual abuse case in which we recovered over 1 billion dollars for our clients. When you are ready to hold those responsible for your traumatic experience, connect with a compassionate and dedicated Kalamazoo sexual abuse lawyer and begin to move forward with your life.

Sexual Abuse by Clergy Members Is a Serious Issue

Many religious organizations claim to serve whatever god they claim and will often use this to cover up criminal activity in the name of a deity. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in just the Catholic clergy, 1670 members of the clergy were accused of the sexual abuse of 3677 victims, most of whom were under 14 years old. These clergy members can include, but are not limited to:

• Priests
• Pastors
• Deacons
• Nuns
• Church volunteers

This is just a single study of a single religious denomination, and with so many different religious factions and variations, the actual numbers may never be known. With many different religions throughout the nation and the world, many occurrences of sexual abuse by various members of the clergy happen every day, usually to victims who are young and particularly vulnerable. At White Law PLLC, our Kalamazoo personal injury lawyer is committed to pursuing justice for our clients regardless of the religious denomination they belong to.

Learn How Your Personal Injury Attorney Can Help Your Case

You can pursue a lawsuit against your abuser on your own, but this can prove to be too much of a challenge for many individuals. Retaining a committed clergy sex abuse lawyer in Kalamazoo can help ensure that every opportunity for justice is explored. We have considerable experience in navigating the Michigan judicial system and have extensive resources to support your case, such as our recent sexual abuse case involving the former Diocese of Lansing may set a new legal precedent. 

Typical personal injury cases have a three-year time limit known as the statute of limitations. However, in sexual abuse cases, this limit is increased to 10 years under MCL §600.5805 to give clergy abuse survivors support on their road to recovery. This is one of many factors that the average person may not be aware of when filing a lawsuit that your personal injury attorney can help explain and understand after discussing the specific details of your individual case. 

White Law PLLC will take all necessary steps to increase your chances of a favorable outcome in your case. Accurately calculating your damages, making sure all paperwork is filed correctly and in a timely manner, and ensuring all legal processes are properly followed are just a few of the ways having dedicated legal counsel can help you find justice. Your best chance at success when fighting for what you deserve against a giant entity like the Catholic Church may likely be having an experienced clergy sex abuse attorney in Kalamazoo by your side. 

There Are Various Damages You May Seek Compensation For

You may be curious about how to go about putting a price tag on your suffering. You may just want to forget it ever happened and move on with your life. However, if you want to hold your abuser accountable for their actions, and demand compensation for the suffering you have endured, here are some examples of the damages you are rightly owed, including:

Economic Damages 

Fairly easy to calculate, economic damages are any costs that you have had to pay for, including medical bills, lost wages, and other financial expenses. Because they have easily identifiable values, they can be calculated down to the penny. With the help of your clergy sex abuse attorney in Kalamazoo, we can go over all of your bills associated with your abuse as a base value of your case. 

Non-Economic Damages

Without fixed financial costs, non-economic damages are more difficult to calculate but can be even more difficult to overcome. Loss of enjoyment of life, fear and anxiety of certain people and places, and pain and suffering are some examples that can leave you mentally and emotionally distraught. No amount of financial compensation can heal the suffering you have endured, but it can help you try to move past the trauma you have experienced. 

Punitive Damages

Also known as exemplary damages in Michigan, punitive damages may not be applicable in every case of personal injury. Designed to punish perpetrators for especially malicious, egregious, or intentional behavior, exemplary damages are more clearly defined in MCL §691.1701. Discussing the details of your specific situation with your compassionate clergy sex abuse attorney in Kalamazoo can help them explain if these damages could apply in your case. 

Consult with a Kalamazoo Clergy Sex Abuse Lawyer to Learn More About How You Can Obtain Justice

At White Law PLLC, we pride ourselves on putting our clients first and providing them with top-rated and highly experienced legal advocates who will do everything they can to see you get the most favorable outcome possible for your case. When you retain a compassionate and knowledgeable Kalamazoo clergy sex abuse lawyer, you can be confident that our priority is pursuing the largest possible compensation package based on the details of your case. Take charge of your future and hold your abuser accountable to the full extent the law allows. 

Moving past the trauma of having been sexually abused by a member of the clergy can be one of the most challenging difficulties an individual can be faced with. While only you can decide when the right time to pursue justice is, our law firm will be there to help you in any way we can. When you are ready, call our offices or complete our secure online contact form and schedule your free, no-risk consultation as soon as today.