As coated by The Baltimore Banner and The Baltimore Solar, BGL consumer Thomas Carney was certainly one of six survivors of kid sexual abuse by Catholic clergy who eloquently described the consequences of their abuse to the decide presiding over the chapter proceedings of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Each articles additionally function BGL consumer, Paul Jan Zdunek, who chairs the Collectors’ Committee – a gaggle of survivors representing the pursuits of all survivors with claims of kid intercourse abuse in opposition to monks and clergy related to the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Mr. Zdunek launched the audio system to the Courtroom.
Attorneys representing the survivors’ committee advocated for permitting survivors to share their tales in court docket and permit their voices to be heard.
In testifying, Mr. Carney stated that he was taught as a younger Catholic that God was all-powerful and omnipresent and wouldn’t permit his followers to be harmed. Mr. Carney believed this and had put his belief in his pastor and lecturers, solely to expertise sexual abuse by these he trusted. His physique stays alive, he stated, however his goal for residing is misplaced.
“The nightmares are nonetheless alive and effectively in my mind,” Mr. Carney stated. “On the day that I used to be sexually victimized, my life modified ceaselessly.”
U.S. Chapter Choose Michelle M. Harner has scheduled a second listening to for Might 20 to listen to from extra survivors.
Mr. Zdunek, who delivered opening and shutting remarks on behalf of the Collectors Committee, described the listening to as a chance to “share the humanity behind the headlines.” “As all of us proceed to maneuver by the authorized journey forward, we should keep in mind that these weren’t simply tales about moments in time — however are moments in time which were seared into the souls of those now grownup kids,” Mr. Zdunek stated.
“Whereas a few of them might have forgiven their predators, none of them will ever overlook what occurred to them,” he continued. “And neither ought to we.”
Clergy sexual abuse survivors have till Might 31, 2024 to file a declare within the chapter case.
Navigating the claims course of and recounting the trauma of sexual abuse might be tough and overwhelming, however the attorneys at Brown, Goldstein & Levy are right here to assist. We’ve got huge expertise litigating tough sexual assault circumstances and have received million-dollar and multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements in favor of survivors. We’re presently representing scores of survivors with claims in opposition to the Archdiocese of Baltimore (together with shoppers who signed releases with the Archdiocese up to now), the Archdiocese of Washington, the Maryland Division of Juvenile Companies, quite a few personal and public colleges, and different establishments.
Should you consider you will have a declare of sexual abuse in opposition to the Archdiocese of Baltimore, don’t hesitate to contact us for a confidential session.
ABOUT ANDREW FREEMAN
Andy Freeman obtains justice for his shoppers. He has received quite a few verdicts, judgments, and settlements of hundreds of thousands, tens of hundreds of thousands, and in a single case over a billion {dollars} by mastering the related legislation and attending to know his shoppers, their issues, and the proof of their circumstances. In a single case, Andy received a verdict of $15 million for a survivor of kid sexual abuse. In one other trial, he secured a $1 million verdict in a counter-suit on behalf of a lady who was sexually abused by a lawyer, after the lawyer-abuser sued for defamation—a outcome that was acknowledged by the Nationwide Legislation Journal as one of many “High Wins of 2000.” Andy has lengthy been a tenacious advocate for the wellbeing of kids, each inside and outdoors of court docket. He has served as a board member and board president of the Household Tree (previously the Little one Abuse Prevention Heart of Maryland) and of the Household League of Baltimore Metropolis, and as a board member for Secure and Sound: Baltimore’s Marketing campaign for Kids, Youth and Households. Andy was additionally a volunteer with the Courtroom Appointed Particular Advocates (CASA) of Baltimore, a nonprofit that fights for the perfect pursuits of abused and uncared for kids concerned in Baltimore’s foster care system, which awarded him a number of CASA Recognition Awards, and he and his spouse (the previous Government Director of the Baltimore Little one Abuse Heart) had been Baltimore Metropolis foster dad and mom.
Based in 1982, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a legislation agency primarily based in Baltimore, Maryland, with an workplace in Washington, D.C. The agency is nationally acknowledged in all kinds of apply areas, together with complicated civil and industrial litigation, civil rights, well being care, household legislation, and prison protection. Above all else, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a client-centered legislation agency that brings many years of expertise and passionate, efficient advocacy to your struggle for justice.
