The horrors of clergy sexual abuse do not just exist in the moment of abuse. They extend into the far corners of victims’ lives and may never fully heal. Victims of this sort of abuse typically trusted their abusers, and the betrayal of this sacred trust is shattering.
The team at Aeton Law believes in holding abusers accountable, and by fighting for justice for victims, hopes to facilitate healing. Connect with a Bridgeport sexual abuse lawyer if you have experienced sexual abuse at the hands of a clergy member. A Bridgeport clergy abuse lawyer from our team is ready to listen.
Justice for You and Protection for Others
Your decision to get justice for the abuse you have experienced can help you heal and protect others from such unspeakable suffering. By speaking up for yourself, you add your voice to a larger, collective voice. You demand accountability from abusers and stop them from hurting others.
Abusers get their power by hiding behind threats and keeping victims silent. When you expose abusers, you force them out of hiding. They must face a society that now knows of their shameful acts and faces the penalties those acts demand.
When abusers are members of the clergy, they are often part of a larger institution, and sometimes, the institutions know of the abusers’ actions but look the other way or cover them up. Your voice can add strength to efforts demanding changes to legal policies that recognize victims and create paths to justice. These efforts can also change how religious organizations police themselves and protect their most defenseless members.
A Bridgeport Clergy Abuse Lawyer Will Fight with You and for You
No matter how many years have passed since your abuse, seeking justice is an emotional experience. With Aeton Law, you can count on getting superior legal representation while also receiving empathetic, compassionate support from your Bridgeport personal injury lawyer. Our team understands what this effort for justice costs you and holds your past experience and these present efforts with great respect, standing with you through every phase of your case.
Investigating
Your attorney will listen to your story and explore every possible trail of evidence. Convincing cases are built on strong evidence, and Aeton Law has the experience and resources to track down or discover that evidence. Your clergy abuse lawyer in Bridgeport might locate witnesses, either people you told of your abuse or other victims, and add their stories to yours.
Your attorney may interview other clergy members or parishioners who associated with your abuser during the time of your abuse and may have information to support your claim. Additionally, your attorney can sort through documents or communication that hold evidence. For example, your medical records might show injuries consistent with your abuse experience or letters, reports, emails, or other communication from or about your abuser that reference the behavior.
Negotiating
Your demand for justice may be fulfilled without ever going to court. Some clergy abuse cases settle out of court through negotiations, usually with an experienced clergy-abuse mediator. Your attorney will assess the damage you sustained because of the abuse, assign those damages a dollar value, and present that amount as your settlement demand to the abuser’s representatives through a mediator.
Typically, your abuser’s representatives will respond with an offer lower than your demand. Through back-and-forth negotiations, each side will present arguments and evidence to support their adjusted offers until reaching an agreement. Your Bridgeport clergy abuse attorney will keep you informed throughout negotiations and offer you sound advice about accepting or rejecting offers.
Going to Trial
Aeton Law has experience working with clergy-abuse mediators and has achieved favorable case outcomes through mediation. Still, sometimes, the abuser’s team refuses to engage in productive negotiations by failing to respond quickly or at all or by making insultingly low offers, and you may choose to take your case to court. You can make this decision with confidence as the team at Aeton Law is well prepared to argue your case before a judge and jury.
To proceed in court, you need to file your abuse claim within Connecticut’s statute of limitations, or legal deadline, for filing civil claims. Though more change is needed, Connecticut has adjusted the legal deadlines for filing clergy sexual abuse claims in recent years. Navigating these deadlines can be challenging, so connect with an attorney as soon as possible.
Compensation for Clergy Abuse Cases
Just as every case is different, so is every settlement amount. The unique factors of your case, such as the severity of the abuse, the effect it had on your life, the duration of the abuse, and other relevant specifics, influence the monetary value of your case. You can trust your attorney to assess the particulars of your case with great respect and precision.
For some victims, the abuse experiences put them on a downward spiral. They may get in trouble at school and struggle to concentrate, learn, or complete their education. Unable to reach their full potential, these victims may find it hard to secure gainful employment and fight just to make ends meet as adults.
Victims may self-medicate with alcohol or drugs and suffer with addiction. Even those who manage to live “normal” lives may experience anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Your attorney will seek a measure of justice by fighting for financial compensation to acknowledge these losses, pursuing coverage for:
- Emotional suffering and psychological distress
- Mental health or other related healthcare costs
- Lost income, if your suffering caused you to lose time at work
- Reduced enjoyment and quality of life
- Any other losses incurred by the abuse
Contact a Clergy Abuse Attorney in Bridgeport Today
Abusers should not go unpunished, and victims should not go without justice. Your experience and suffering deserve acknowledgment and compensation, and your abuser is the one to pay that bill. When you get justice, you get the last word in the fight against your abuser.
You also put potential abusers on notice and raise awareness among potential victims who may recognize danger before it harms them. Reach out to a compassionate Bridgeport clergy abuse lawyer from Aeton Law today. Start working toward justice that truly makes a difference, and schedule a consultation to discuss your case.