If you or someone you love was abused by a clergy member in New Orleans, Louisiana, you may be able to take legal action. Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help you pursue compensation and justice.
Our New Orleans clergy abuse lawyers have 50 years of combined experience and have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients to date. Clergy abuse cases require careful investigative work and a strong showing of evidence, but we’re willing to do whatever it takes to help you make things right.
Contact us today at (504) 294-3804 for a free consultation.
How Mansfield Melancon Can Help With a Clergy Abuse Claim in New Orleans, LA
Clergy abuse cases in New Orleans, Louisiana, are emotionally draining and legally complex. Survivors often face churches and affiliated organizations with significant resources at their disposal. Working with a lawyer who understands how these institutions handle claims can improve your ability to secure justice substantially.
An experienced New Orleans sexual abuse attorney with our team can help by:
- Reviewing your experience and identifying potential legal claims
- Investigating church records, internal communications, and past complaints
- Gathering evidence that supports your account of what happened
- Working with trauma-informed experts when needed
- Handling all communication with the church and its insurers
- Protecting you from intimidation or pressure to stay silent
- Filing a lawsuit and presenting your case in court if necessary
Our New Orleans injury attorneys can examine the full scope of your situation and help you understand every legal option available to you under Louisiana law.
Call Mansfield Melancon today to schedule a free consultation.
What Is Clergy Abuse?
Clergy abuse refers to sexual misconduct or exploitation by a religious authority, such as an Archdiocese. Clergy members hold positions of trust and influence within their communities, and so the law recognizes that this type of abuse can have long-lasting effects.
Clergy abuse can include:
- Sexual assault
- Child molestation
- Grooming
- Coercive or manipulative sexual contact
- Inappropriate touching
- Exploitation during counseling or spiritual guidance
- Exposing minors to sexual content
- Abusive conduct disguised as religious instruction
Many survivors do not understand the nature of the abuse until years later and are often understandably afraid to come forward. However, it is important to know that Louisiana law provides several avenues and protections for survivors in this regard, sometimes even years after the abuse took place.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Clergy Abuse in New Orleans?
More than one party may be responsible in a clergy abuse case. Louisiana law allows survivors to pursue compensation from the individuals who committed the misconduct in addition to the institutions that enabled or concealed it.
Possible defendants may include:
- Priests, ministers, and other religious leaders
- Churches and dioceses
- Religious governing bodies
- Youth programs operated by the church
- Supervisors who ignored reports of misconduct
- Organizations that transferred abusive clergy rather than reporting them
Determining liability requires reviewing church records, personnel files, internal policies, and witness accounts. Our law firm will thoroughly examine all available evidence to identify every party that contributed to the abuse occurring.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Clergy Abuse Case in New Orleans, Louisiana?
Survivors of clergy abuse may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages. These forms of compensation address the financial and personal effects of the abuse.
Economic damages may include:
- Therapy and counseling
- Medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Decreased earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages compensate for the personal impact of abuse, such as:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Anxiety or trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Harm to personal relationships
Although punitive damages are generally prohibited in personal injury cases in Louisiana, sexual abuse cases constitute a possible exception to that rule.
How Long Do I Have to File a Clergy Abuse Lawsuit in Louisiana?
Louisiana recently changed its laws to make it easier for victims of clergy sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits. If the abuse occurred on or after June 14, 2021, there’s no time limit to take legal action. For abuse that happened before that date, victims may still have until June 14, 2027, to file a claim—even if the deadline had already passed under the old law.
That said, there is further complexity in this area, as the deadline may depend on exactly how old the victim currently is, as well as exactly how old they were when the abuse took place. You should get legal advice to determine the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit
Contact Our New Orleans Clergy Abuse Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you or a family member suffered abuse from a clergy member in New Orleans, LA, Mansfield Melancon can help you understand your rights and pursue liability.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a New Orleans clergy abuse attorney. We are here to help you take the next step when you are ready.