Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York will allegedly raise more than $300 million to compensate over 1,300 people who said they suffered sexual abuse as children at the hands of priests and church staff, according to a letter published this week.
The letter, which was published on Monday, Dec. 8, was penned by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York. In it, he said that the archdiocese has made a “series of very difficult financial decisions” to raise funds for the settlement.
Some of these decisions included the sale of various properties, layoffs, and a 10% reduction in their operating budget. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York is the second-largest diocese in the U.S. behind the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
In the letter, Dolan said that the church has worked “with determination” to ensure the protection of children while continuing to promote “healing and justice to victim-survivors.”
“As we have repeatedly acknowledged, the sexual abuse of minors long ago has brought shame upon our Church,” he wrote. “I once again ask forgiveness for the failing of those who betrayed the trust placed in them by failing to provide for the safety of our young people.”
In November, the archdiocese had a meeting with an ad hoc group of attorneys for a “large number: of victims-survivors to discuss achieving a global resolution. It was decided that mediation would be scheduled to be overseen by Judge Daniel J. Buckley (ret.), who previously served as the neutral mediator in negotiating a settlement for more than 1,000 victims and survivors with claims of sexual abuse with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) publishes annual reports on abuse allegations and reported approximately 902 allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy in the 2023-24 report.
Leesfield & Partners
In 49 years of personal injury law, Leesfield & Partners has had the honor of being the law firm to represent countless victims and survivors in their bid for justice. In the United States, it is estimated that someone is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, according to data from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Every nine minutes, that person is a child.
Our attorneys have represented enough clients to know the long-lasting impact that the trauma of sexual abuse can have on victims and survivors. More often than not, the perpetrator of child sexual abuse is someone the minor knows. This can include family members, teachers, coaches, tutors, babysitters, or church officials. These individuals are in a position of trust and are often granted unfettered access to the victim. Our attorneys represent every client with the compassion, diligence and tenacity necessary to achieve the best possible outcome and hold those responsible accountable for the damages they have caused.
Partner Justin B. Shapiro and Evan Robinson, a Trial Attorney at the firm, are representing a minor and her family after a horrific and gruesome sexual assault has left her traumatized. The assault happened at a local gym where there had been prior incidents involving the 22-year-old man trying to “fight” other gym goers. Despite these outbursts, no actions were taken by the gym to either revoke this individual’s membership or limit his access to the gym.
As a result of this horrific assault, out 14-year-old client has been left with PTSD, and night terrors.
Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Attorney at the firm, is representing a woman who was left traumatized after it was discovered that an employee with the cruise ship she was traveling on had planted hidden cameras in her room and the room of other passengers. Many of the victims who were filmed without their knowledge included children.
This employee was sentenced to 30 years in prison for creating child sex abuse material.
That case is ongoing.
Representing Victims and Survivors
Leesfield & Partners has represented victims and survivors in numerous cases involving sexual abuse and the negligence of corporations, management companies, and other entities responsible for ensuring their safety. Recently, Mr. Leesfield and Trial Attorney Carlos A. Fabano obtained a confidential settlement on behalf four clients who were sexually abused as children by the same church official while they attended parochial schools.
Partner Justin B. Shapiro secured a $16 million settlement for a couple who were brutally attacked while staying as guests at a hotel. The assailant in that case viciously beat both victims. He also raped and sexually assaulted the wife.
Despite the hotel’s known history of violent incidents, management had disregarded repeated recommendations from both law enforcement and a private security firm to employ armed security personnel.
On the day of the incident, the attacker gained unrestricted access to the hotel due to the absence of basic safety measures, such as functioning locks or keycard-secured elevators. He went up to the couple’s floor, where he launched a violent assault—first attacking the husband, then brutally beating and raping the wife. Disturbingly, hotel staff and on-site security witnessed parts of the attack but failed to intervene.
Previously, the firm secured $8.6 million for a camper at a well-known Florida summer camp. A camp counselor in that case was later found to have been sexually abusing our minor client. The camp ignored clear warning signs, to the detriment of the child they were entrusted to protect.
Leesfield & Partners attorneys previously secured a confidential settlement for a child who was flying as an unaccompanied minor on an airline and meant to be under the care of flight officials. During the flight, the child was sexually abused by another passenger.
In a case involving multiple students who were sexually abused by a teacher at a prestigious Florida high school, the victims and survivors were paid multi-million-dollar reparations thanks to the work of Leesfield & Partners.
The firm represented a Canadian cruise ship passenger who was attacked and raped in her private cabin by a crew member. This crew member used his employee keycard to enter the woman’s room. A multi-million-dollar recover was obtained for the woman in that case.
A store clerk was awarded $1.13 million in a negligent security case at a shopping mall following an incident in which the clerk was robbed and brutally raped.
A hotel maid was raped while on the job by a man who was not a guest who roamed the property without being questioned. Leesfield & Partners secured a $1 million settlement for the woman.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse, you are not alone. Help can be found by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
