Buffalo, NY Priest Abuse

225+ Buffalo, NY priests accused of sexual abuse against children.

Attorney Steve Boyd handled nearly half of the cases of Buffalo priest abuse in Buffalo, NY, and over a third of them in Rochester, NY—holding predators responsible for their actions. 1993, when working as a reporter, Steve Boyd uncovered evidence of Buffalo priest abuse, launching the first large-scale priest sexual abuse scandal in the Diocese of Buffalo. As an attorney, Steve Boyd has represented tens of hundreds of survivors, handling 70% of the sexual abuse cases involving clergy from the Buffalo diocese and nearly 40% of those in Rochester, NY. Today, Steve is one of the leading sexual abuse lawyers in New York State and continues to fight against priest sexual abuse in multiple states.

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Our Process

Buffalo priest abuse—more than 1,000 claims were filed against priests from the Diocese of Buffalo, and the diocese has paid out at least $17.5 million in settlements. Not only did these priests abuse their position of power in order to prey upon innocent youth, but the Catholic Church and leadership of the diocese enabled ongoing abuse for decades by protecting predator priests. If a priest has abused you or a member of your family, you’ll need an experienced and compassionate attorney to fight for your rights and secure full compensation for your pain and suffering.

Our legal team will:

Provide a free case review
Locate & secure crucial evidence
Protect the privacy of the survivor
Identify & interview key witnesses
Hold perpetrators & the institutions that enabled them accountable
Travel to you & other injured parties

Results

Millions

recovered for survivors of child sexual abuse

Over 700

sexual abuse clients represented

Confidentiality is the most important part of the attorney-client relationship.

This is especially true for survivors of sexual abuse. Our entire trauma-informed team treats every client’s details with the strictest confidence. Though we can never truly understand the pain that survivors have suffered throughout their lives, we will help you learn your rights, and we won’t take any action on your behalf unless or until you’re ready. We are committed to protecting your identity and can even file your case as John Doe or Jane Doe.

Prevalence of Buffalo, NY Priest Abuse in Western New York (WNY)

230 Buffalo clerics have been publicly accused of abusing over 1,000 individuals between 1950 – 2021
At least one Buffalo priest has 20 allegations filed against him, and another has 18 allegations filed against him
One Buffalo priest admitted to abusing “probably dozens” of adolescent boys in the late 70s/early 80s
A number of cases reveal that some children were abused by more than one priest at a time and sometimes in the presence of many priests, nuns, or other children
It’s estimated that there are hundreds of survivors of child sex abuse in WNY who choose not to come forward, press charges, or file a case. It’s a highly personal and painful experience; our team is trained to help you through it.

What Happened to Abusive Priests from Western New York?

The church often protected abusive priests by relocating them to other parishes
Church leaders protected perpetrators, concealing records for decades
No priest was prosecuted in Buffalo, and only a handful of Rochester-area priests were criminally charged
The diocese often returned abusive priests to active ministry
The diocese was often aware of a priest’s abuse for decades before removing him from ministry
Priests who were found guilty in “internal investigations” were sometimes quietly removed from ministry and allowed to retire or be inactive

FAQs – Priest Sexual Abuse

Is it too late to speak to a lawyer if I’ve been sexually abused by a Buffalo priest?

First and foremost, if you’ve suffered abuse by a priest or anyone else, please seek medical and mental health care support as soon as possible. If the abuse was recent or is still going on, it needs to be stopped immediately. If you need help reporting the abuse to the proper authorities to ensure your safety, please call us. We would be happy to help guide you through this process.

After your immediate needs are taken care of, then reach out to us for a confidential and free consultation. We have extensive experience fighting for survivors of priest sexual abuse and will treat your case with the utmost sensitivity, privacy, and expertise.

How much is my case worth if I’ve been sexually abused by a Buffalo priest?

Every case is different, but most clergy abuse cases are being settled before going to trial. The process is complicated and it’s more complex as a result of the COVID pandemic and diocese bankruptcies holding up legal proceedings. It takes an experienced attorney to proceed with a claim for damages. For a free, confidential case evaluation, contact Steve Boyd, PC, today.

How much does it cost to hire an attorney for a priest sexual abuse case in Buffalo?

You don’t pay any legal fees until we win or settle your case. We review your case for free. When a settlement or verdict is reached, then our legal fee is calculated as a percentage of the total amount recovered. If you call us today to schedule a consultation, it’s free.