Our attorneys have been assisting the Orange County and Southern California communities for over 40 years.
Clergy sexual abuse within the Diocese of Orange is a crime that has impacted hundreds, if not thousands, of children and youth. Priests, bishops, and other members of the clergy can inflict lifelong pain and suffering on children through traumatic acts of abuse and assault. If you or someone you love has experienced abuse in this diocese, contact our law firm. Our Diocese of Orange clergy abuse lawyers may be able to help you get compensation.
Incidents of clergy abuse are finally getting some exposure thanks to resources such as the Database of Publicly Accused Priests. This database lists all priests and other members of the clergy with allegations against them, organized by the diocese. The Diocese of Orange has 26 accused individuals as of October 2019.
If any of these names stand out to you as someone who sexually assaulted or abused you, contact our Diocese of Orange clergy abuse attorneys right away. If another member of the Diocese of Orange may be guilty of wrongdoing against you or a loved one, we can help you take a stand against the alleged perpetrator.
As of September 16th, 2019, survivors of clergy abuse in the Diocese of Orange can file claims with the state’s new Independent Compensation Program. Orange and five other dioceses in the state created the program to aid abuse survivors. Since the state’s statute of limitations imposes a cut-off time for child sex abuse civil lawsuits, six dioceses created the compensation fund to give survivors another outlet for financial recovery.
More than 10 million Catholics within these dioceses now have the opportunity to file sexual abuse claims in pursuit of financial compensation. Most cases settle within 90 days. The claims process protects survivors’ privacy from start to finish. Using an Orange County clergy abuse lawyer from DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo could expedite your claim and improve your odds of securing a settlement. We can also help you determine if this is the right move for you.
The Independent Compensation Fund is an excellent resource for clergy abuse survivors who have missed their statutes of limitations. The deadline to bring a lawsuit is eight years from the age of majority. If adults do not discover the source of their psychological trauma until after age 26, they have 3 years from the date of discovery to file their claims. California’s time limit on sexual assault claims is 10 years.
If you are within California’s statutes of limitations for your claim type, a lawsuit against the at-fault party or parties could result in greater compensation than a claim through the independent fund. It could also hold the priest or another party accountable for your losses, including emotional pain and suffering. Work with our Diocese of Orange priest abuse attorneys to find out which legal route is best for you.
Our attorneys want to help you file a claim to economic and/or noneconomic damages after experiencing clergy abuse at a Catholic church within the Diocese of Orange. If you believe you have a case, contact us to request a free confidential review. You will speak directly to a City of Orange clergy abuse attorney during a confidential consultation. Call (714) 783-2205 today.