Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Settlements (2025)

How Clergy Abuse Settlement Amounts Are Determined

If you are considering filing a lawsuit for the distress you suffered, you may wonder how much compensation you can expect. Here’s a look at what goes into calculating these settlements.

Severity and Duration of the Abuse

Generally, cases involving more severe abuse or abuse that occurred over a long period tend to result in higher settlement amounts. This is because the severity and duration of abuse are directly related to the level of trauma and subsequent damages a victim may experience.

Impact on the Victim

The degree to which the abuse has affected the victim's life—physically, psychologically, emotionally, and professionally—is taken into account. For instance, if a victim had to undergo extensive therapy or if their ability to work has been significantly impacted, these factors could contribute to a higher settlement.

Actions of the Church or Religious Institution

If it can be demonstrated that the church or religious institution knew about the abuse and failed to take appropriate action, or worse, covered it up, this could significantly increase the settlement amount. These actions—or lack thereof—by the institution represent a gross negligence of duty and exacerbation of harm, which courts often penalize heavily.

Jurisdiction

Different states have different laws related to damages that can be awarded in civil lawsuits. Some states may cap the amount of damages that can be awarded, while others do not. The jurisdiction in which the case is filed can, therefore, impact the settlement amount.

The Catholic Church in the U.S. has paid out more than $3 billion in settlements to victims of clergy sexual abuse to date. Individual dioceses have paid settlements ranging from tens of thousands to several million dollars. For example, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles paid a total of $660 million to 508 victims in 2007, which averages out to approximately $1.3 million per victim.

Similarly, settlements in childhood molestation cases have ranged from $450,000 to $950,000, depending on the specifics of the abuse and the defendant's actions. According to JinksCrow law firm, the average settlement for clergy sexual abuse victims is approximately $268,000.

However, it's important to remember that while these figures may seem large, they reflect a small portion of the actual damages victims endure. The trauma of clergy sexual abuse can impact nearly every aspect of a victim's life, leading to significant costs—both tangible and intangible—over their lifetime. Pursuing a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit can be a crucial step towards securing the financial resources necessary for recovery and holding the responsible parties accountable.

Average Amount of Clergy Sexual Abuse Settlements

BishopAccountability.org states that the average settlement amount for this type of assault is $268,466 per survivor. As of now, up to $3 billion in total has been awarded to victims. Religious orders, dioceses and their insurers have paid as much $2.49 billion in large settlements between 2002 and 2011.

Additionally, pre-2002 settlements amounted to what is estimated to be $750 million. There are numerous smaller settlements that are not generally counted when looking at the overall settlements as well. To make things more complicated, these numbers represent payouts for only 5,769 survivors of the known 15,235.

All of this means that the average settlements are conservative estimates that could vary significantly by individual case. This is where your attorney comes in.

Your attorney is essential in helping you not only understand what your rights are but also in fighting for fair compensation. If you attempt to begin these kinds of claims alone, you could end up with a much smaller settlement than you deserve for what you endured.

What is the statute of limitations for clergy abuse?

The civil statute of limitations for sexual abuse within a church setting can vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction. Different states and countries have their own laws and time limits for filing such claims. Some jurisdictions have made efforts to extend or suspend the statute of limitations for cases involving sexual abuse, particularly when minors are involved, recognizing the unique challenges survivors face in coming forward.

In many places, there have been temporary "look-back windows" enacted, allowing survivors to file claims that were previously barred due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. Additionally, some jurisdictions apply the "discovery rule," which allows the statute of limitations to start when the survivor discovers the abuse or its harmful effects, rather than when the abuse occurred.

For instance, in the United States, states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Maryland have specific statutes of limitations for sexual abuse cases:

• Ohio: Ohio allows survivors to file a lawsuit until they reach the age of 30 and has enacted a one-time, two-year "look-back window" for previously barred cases.
• Pennsylvania: Survivors in Pennsylvania have until the age of 55 to file civil lawsuits, and the state has opened a temporary "look-back window" for previously time-barred cases.
• Florida: Florida has eliminated the civil statute of limitations for sexual battery of a minor, allowing survivors to file at any time.
• Maryland: Maryland permits lawsuits until the age of 38, with provisions for extension under certain circumstances, such as the discovery rule.

Given the variations in law and the possibility of legislative changes, it is crucial for survivors or their representatives to consult with a legal professional or check the most current state statutes to get the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the civil statute of limitations in these or any other states. This consultation is essential for understanding the time limits and any available legal remedies in the applicable jurisdiction.

Taxes on Clergy Abuse Settlements

When filing a lawsuit after surviving clergy abuse, a worry you may have is about whether you will need to pay taxes on the settlement. But are personal injury settlements taxable? When it comes to these types of claims, part of your settlement could indeed be taxable if you did not suffer physical injuries.

Typically, you will have to pay taxes on the non-economic damages you receive. These include pain and suffering compensation. If you did suffer a physical injury because of the abuse, then you could be exempted from these taxes.

There is legislation proposed to Congress that strives to change the tax burden on victims, but it has not yet passed. This bill has the goal of ensuring that survivors of sexual assault, abuse, harassment and misconduct don’t have to pay a federal tax even if their injuries aren’t physical.

Some states have already embraced legislation that centers around helping abuse survivors. New York, for example, has the Adult Survivors Act, which offers a lookback window for cases with expired statute of limitations.

Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Updates

Examining case studies of clergy sexual abuse lawsuits provides a profound understanding of the gravity and complexity of these cases. These lawsuits illustrate the heinous acts committed by individuals in positions of trust and the lengths to which institutions have gone to protect their reputations over the well-being of victims. Here are several notable examples:

The Diocese of Pittsburgh, 2021

The Feinberg Group reported that it received 369 claims against the Catholic Diocese in Pittsburgh. Of the 297 claims deemed eligible, 224 claimants agreed to settlements, with claims averaging about $86,000 per victim. This case highlighted the widespread nature of the abuse and the collective action that victims took to seek justice.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses, Montana, 2018

Two women who were abused as children over a 13-year period by a congregation member brought a lawsuit against the organization. They argued that the congregation's decision to handle the matter internally, rather than contact authorities, allowed the abuse to continue. The jury awarded the victims a collective $34,960,000, underlining the severe consequences of institutions choosing to shield abusers rather than protect victims.

Catholic Priest Abuse, Washington, 2016

Eight women alleged that a former Catholic priest sexually abused them over forty years ago when they were children. They claimed that the then-Archbishop of Seattle transferred him to unsuspecting parishes despite possessing documented accounts of his abuse. The average individual settlement amount over $1 million was a testament to the compounded harm caused by the systemic cover-up of abuse.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 2007

This case represents one of the largest settlements in church sex abuse cases. The Archdiocese agreed to a $660 million settlement for 508 victims, translating to an average of $1.3 million per victim. This settlement followed five years of negotiations and marked a significant victory for victims of clergy sexual abuse.

These cases are not only testaments to the courage of the victims who sought justice but also stark reminders of the pervasive issue of clergy sexual abuse. Each successful lawsuit serves as a beacon of hope for other victims, demonstrating that legal recourse is possible, and justice can be served.