How To File A Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit In Illinois (2025)

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Sarah Edwards

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Reviewed By Adam Ramirez, J.D.

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Summary

  • When clergy members abuse their position, victims can take legal action
  • After suffering clergy abuse, you can file a claim to receive compensation
  • You can obtain damages to cover medical expenses and emotional distress

When members of the community turn to clergy, they often place a high of trust in these spiritual advisors. But when clergy members abuse this trust, violating others in the most personal ways possible, it can cause physical and mental trauma, leaving survivors wondering how to proceed.

With help from an Illinois personal injury lawyer, you can seek to hold the parties responsible for your sexual abuse to account for their actions. With counsel by your side, you can fight for economic and non-economic damages to cover your losses. Learn more about how to file a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit.

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What Allegations Go Into a Sexual Assault Civil Lawsuit?

To begin a lawsuit for clergy sexual abuse in Illinois, you need to establish that you were forced into sexual activity while you were not able to give consent. You may need to show that you had a mental disability or illness that didn’t let you understand what you were doing or that you were under the legal age of consent. An experienced clergy sexual abuse attorney can provide a listening ear and compassionate support in building a strong claim against the perpetrator.

Damages Survivors Can Seek in Clergy Abuse Cases in Illinois

In a lawsuit for clergy sexual abuse in Illinois, you can receive damages that cover the medical expenses you had, including ongoing needs, as well as compensation for any lost wages or loss of earning potential that you experienced. Additionally, you can obtain compensation for the emotional and physical distress the assault caused.

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How Long Do I Have to File a Clergy Abuse Claim in Illinois?

To file a clergy abuse lawsuit, the statute of limitations can be extended from the normal two years that a personal injury claim would grant you. That’s because these cases generally involve children. The clock will start ticking the moment that you turn 18.

Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit: Who Can I Sue?

In a lawsuit involving clergy abuse in Illinois, you can sue the individual clergy involved as well as the religious institution they belonged to. The institution owed you a duty of care to keep you safe, which they failed to uphold.

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Choosing a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer in Illinois

To select an appropriate attorney, you must look for someone with experience in these types of cases. They must have been able to obtain significant settlements for clients and put you at ease with their communication style.

Begin a Lawsuit for Clergy Sexual Abuse in Illinois

At ConsumerShield, we can connect you with attorneys in your area who are ready to take on your case involving clergy sexual abuse in Illinois. Contact us to begin.

Free Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Case Review

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Your attorney will work on contingency, so you should not have to pay anything up front. They will receive a percentage of your settlement or jury award.

  • Most of these cases are settled out of court. In instances when your attorney is not able to negotiate a fair settlement, they can choose to pursue the case further via litigation.

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