Los Angeles Religious Organization Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Childhood sexual abuse is a massive and very likely underreported problem in the United States as well as throughout the world. At both the individual and organizational level, religious groups have engaged in, facilitated, or negligently failed to prevent the sexual abuse of children in their care for decades, and only in recent years have state courts begun to catch up with this globe-spanning legacy of misconduct.

If you or your child was sexually abused prior to turning 18 by a priest, rabbi, nun, or any other religious figure, you very likely have grounds to demand comprehensive civil compensation from more than one liable party. You also have help available from seasoned child sexual abuse attorneys in achieving the best possible outcome from your claim. If you are thinking about pursuing this type of case, contact The Cifarelli Law Firm to consult a Los Angeles religious organization child sexual abuse lawyer.

Are Religious Organizations Liable for the Actions of Individuals?

There is substantial legal precedent establishing that religious institutions can be held liable for the sexual abuse of children committed by their clergy or by other church-affiliated people. This is partly because churches, like private employers, are vicariously liable for injuries and losses caused by the misconduct of their workers and volunteers while performing work for the organization they serve.

More broadly, however, there is no shortage of evidence proving that many religious organizations have systematically failed to address credible allegations of sexual abuse within their ranks for decades, and that some have even knowingly concealed abusers from police in an attempt to protect their public reputation. Either way, you can very likely name the religious organization that your or your child’s sexual abuser was affiliated with as a co-defendant in your lawsuit, and our Los Angeles attorneys are here to help you do so within the rules set by state law.

Important Evidence for Child Sexual Abuse Claims

Notably, civil lawsuits are subject to a less strict standard of proof than criminal cases. They are based on a preponderance of the evidence, as opposed to beyond a reasonable doubt. This means it is possible to hold someone civilly liable for sexual abuse regardless of whether they were criminally convicted for their behavior. However, evidence will still be the linchpin of any claim over child sexual abuse within a Los Angeles religious institution. A typical case may incorporate things such as:

• Multiple interviews with your child about what happened to them
• Interviews with your child’s abuser(s)
• Statements from witnesses who either saw abuse happen or can speak to the behavior of the abuser
• Forensic evidence and medical reports to demonstrate the physical effects of abuse

A lawyer from our firm could discuss what kinds of information may be important to your specific lawsuit during a private initial meeting.

Contact a Los Angeles Lawyer About a Religious Organization Child Sexual Abuse Case

For decades, sexual abuse within religious organizations such as the Catholic Church affected hundreds of thousands of children who had no means of speaking about what was being done to them and no popular consensus that such acts could ever occur in those settings. Now, however, it is widely known that spiritual leaders can be abusers on massive scales, and that those abusers, as well as anyone who enabled the,m can be held publicly accountable for the harm they have done.

A Los Angeles religious organization child sexual abuse lawyer from our team could be the steadfast ally your family needs throughout your legal proceedings. Contact our team at The Cifarelli Law Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation.