Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

According to news sources, the attorney for one of the catholic priests charged with raping alter boys has come out swinging against the victim. A Grand Jury report accused the priest of raping a then 14-year old boy in the summer of 1996. The defense attorney for the priest claimed that the victim who has had a slippery slope backwards in life, is not a credible witness. As an experienced Pennsylvania sexual abuse attorney who has handled some high profile cases against psychiatrists, medical providers, and clergy and who has represented victims of sexual predators, I am not surprised to learn of the posture of the defense attorney. It is a common defense technique in almost all sexual abuse cases, to portray the victim of the predator as a liar and not a credible source of information. What I find more amazing and more hypocritical is why it took so long for the Archdiocese to finally take legal action and suspend the accused priests. The Church evidently failed to do the right thing until its hand was forced. It was only last week that Cardinal Justin Rigali suspended 21 priests in the Philadelphia Archdiocese after they had been accused of sexual abuse or other improper behavior involving children. The accusations against these priests have evidently been known to the Archdiocese under Rigali and his predecessor Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua for years and in some cases decades according to news sources and investigations.

Since the first Grand Jury report on sexual abuse in the Archdiocese (2005), Cardinal Rigali repeatedly assured his flock that there were no priests in active service known to have abused children. However, the facts indicate otherwise. Apparently 21 priests in active service, who are now considered so dangerous to children, that their immediate suspension was warranted. Obviously, the truth according to a recent article in The Philadelphia Inquirer is that the suspensions only occurred because of last month’s Grand Jury report which exposed the fact that priests were in active service and posing a danger to children. If not but for this Grand Jury report, there probably would have been no suspensions.

For years, news stories have surfaced regarding children that have been raped by members of the clergy and yet the clergy members have been repeatedly protected because law enforcement agencies, legislatures, and media failed miserably to expose these crimes and take steps to stop them.

Continue reading "Why Is It That The Victims Always Get Blamed In Sexual Abuse Cases?" »

Philadelphia has been in the headlines once again concerning clergy abuse. The Archdiocese announced on Tuesday, March 8th that 21 priests would be put on leave because of allegations that they sexually abused or behaved improperly with minors. Unfortunately, we believe that the Archdiocese acted too late and only responded after the fact when the Philadelphia Grand Jury found that 37 local priests were serving in the ministry despite accusations of questionable behavior.

Under Pennsylvania law, an individual is entitled to bring a civil action arising from childhood sexual abuse if he or she is under 18 at the time the cause of action occurred and the individual shall have a period of 12 years after attaining 18-years of age in which to commence an action for damages regardless of whether the individual files a criminal complaint regarding the childhood sexual abuse.

As a Pennsylvania sexual abuse attorney who has prosecuted many sexual assault cases whether they be by physicians, teachers, or clergy, it appears that sexual abuse offenses continue to increase in frequency and often go unpunished. The common thread that seems to follow through many of our sexual assault cases involves an inappropriate molestation, rape, or sexual assault by a person in a position of perceived power or authority who acts in a predatory manner towards a typically inexperienced, innocent, and vulnerable younger victim. Typically it involves one of the most atrocious betrayals that one can imagine if a religious leader, teacher, or doctor.

The sexual abuse attorneys of The Beasley Reiff Law Group have handled some of the most high profile sexual assault cases in the country. Our skilled sexual abuse lawyers recognize these offenses are some of the most insidious and devastating crimes and behaviors to inflict upon a child much less an adult or other person with life long psychiatric and psychological ramifications. Our skilled and experienced sexual abuse victim lawyers understand that a sexual assault can easily qualify as one of the most traumatic situations in a person’s entire life and can lead to a complete downward spiral and significant post-traumatic stress disorders. I also personally believe that as an experienced sexual abuse lawyer that such exploitation must not go unpunished. Sexual abuse victims have the legal right to sue the predators who harm them as well as institutions that made it possible, did not stop them, or tried to hide it. Timing is especially critical due to limiting statutes of limitations. Our sexual abuse lawyers work with a team of caring, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and medical experts who will perform a confidential case evaluation dedicated to helping victims of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse lawyers of Reiff & Bily have recently joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm who have collectively been awarded in excess of $2 billion dollars since 1956 representing the rights of catastrophically injured consumers. Our sexual abuse lawyers have a long history representing some of the most high profile sexual abuse claims in Pennsylvania. For a free no obligation and confidential consultation, please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or www.beasleyfirm.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.