The Baltimore Archdiocese Filed Bankruptcy—Their Insurance Companies Didn’t.
That means you still have a case. Our firm represents hundreds of child sexual abuse survivors whose cases are part of Diocesan bankruptcies.
Clergy Abuse is hard to talk about.
We are here to listen.
FREE Confidential Consultation
If you have reached this point, please submit your request or give us a call—we will protect your identity. Diocesan bankruptcy has made bringing a case time-sensitive, and you deserve to be heard.
MARYLAND PRIEST ABUSE
Talking about being sexually abused as a child is difficult.
Our Trauma-Informed Advocates can help you through it.
Our entire team is trauma-informed.
Are you a Maryland priest abuse survivor? We can help. All of our attorneys are admitted in Maryland, and our entire team is trained advocates who understand the difficulty of discussing sexual abuse. Our team will listen to your story and help you safely tell it.
You are not alone.
Sexually abused children can take decades to speak the unspeakable. Abuse that happens in a church has a profound impact on the survivor’s mind, body, and spirit. It changes you forever. Many quietly carry their pain for decades. Studies show that well over half of sexual abuse survivors cannot talk about it until they are 50 years old or older. Historically, trauma and embarrassment cause people to delay reporting their abuse until they are older, missing the Statute of Limitations.
The Maryland Child Victims Act is now law.
Maryland now recognizes the legal challenges faced by survivors of Maryland priest abuse. The Maryland Child Victims Act allows survivors to bring claims against church leadership who covered up the abuse instead of taking action to stop it. Shining light on the evidence-based pattern of delayed disclosure is crucial in the fight for nationwide SOL reform.
We’ve represented hundreds of survivors.
We know this is hard to talk about. If you are a survivor of Maryland priest abuse, finding justice may help you heal. Contact our firm to speak confidentially with our experienced priest abuse attorneys. As a reporter, Attorney Steve Boyd started investigating child sexual abuse by priests in the 1990s. He and his team have represented hundreds of survivors of child sex abuse.
child sexual abuse & Personal Injury Attorneys
As one of the nation’s fastest-growing child sexual abuse law firms, Steve Boyd, PC, handled abuse cases for hundreds of survivors abused as children. We focus our expertise on representing survivors of child sexual abuse. We understand the sensitive and challenging nature of these cases.
While success in the courtroom is essential, our relationships with our clients are paramount to what we do. We listen. We provide a safe and supportive environment for survivors to share their stories and guide them through the legal process.
For 25 years, we’ve handled life-altering cases such as wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and others. However, our sexual abuse practice is at the heart of what we do and who we are. We realize that talking about childhood sexual abuse is difficult, so our team consists of advocates experienced in trauma-informed care.
Each of us is experienced with the process and the people. We work hard to hold abusers and their enablers accountable and treat each client with the utmost dignity, respect, and compassion as we navigate the journey for people abused in Maryland and beyond.
Testimonials
We get results
At Steve Boyd, PC, we listen to you, fight for you, and we get results. Take a look at our significant personal injury case results. Our clients see that we make a difference.
Marland Priest Abuse Survivors Deserve Confidentiality
We understand that confidentiality is essential in the attorney-client relationship, particularly for survivors of sexual abuse. Our team is trained to be trauma-informed, and we take the utmost care to respect the confidentiality of every client’s details. We understand that the pain survivors endure is difficult to comprehend, but we are here to help you understand your rights. We will not take any action on your behalf until you feel ready. Our priority is to protect your identity, and we can even file your case under the pseudonym of John Doe or Jane Doe.
Prevalence of Sexual Abuse in the U.S.
- Sexual assault occurs every 68 seconds in the U.S.
- A child is sexually assaulted every nine minutes.
- About 2.5% of sexual predators are charged and convicted.
- There have been more than 11,000 cases of alleged abuse by catholic priests.
Survivors of child Maryland Priest abuse abuse may be at a higher risk of:
- PTSD
- Depression
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Trust issues
- Educational and employment difficulties
- 32% family members
- Attempted suicide
Our Process
The Maryland Child Victims Act is a source of hope for survivors of child sexual abuse. Starting from October 1, 2023, regardless of how long ago the abuse took place, legal action can be taken against the perpetrator and the institution responsible for the abuse. Survivors can file claims, even if the accused priest is no longer alive.
When a predator abuses a child, and an institution allows it to happen, the survivors deserve a highly qualified attorney who can help them receive justice for their pain. As a top-rated attorney fighting for survivors of sexual abuse, Steve Boyd is here to help. He is admitted to practice law in Maryland and several other states. Steve started investigating the Roman Catholic Church in 1993.
Our trauma-informed legal team
- Confidentially review your case for free
- Discovers critical evidence
- Protects your privacy
- Locates & interviews key witnesses
- Holds church leadership accountable
- Travels to you
Results
$ Millions
recovered for survivors of school sexual abuse
Over 700
sexual abuse clients represented
News & Updates
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Baltimore’s Archdiocese Attempts to Turn Its Back on Abuse Survivors.
Baltimore’s Archdiocese avoids litigation Last Friday, Baltimore’s Archdiocese took an aggressive step to protect its secrets, money, and assets. It filed for Chapter 11 in federal bankruptcy court to avoid litigation by potentially thousands of claims related to its failure to protect children from predator priests. The Archdiocese hopes this move will limit its liability…
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Largest Reported NY School Abuse Settlement—$3.5 Million for one survivor.
A $3.5 Million sexual abuse settlement for one survivor was secured by attorney Leah Costanzo and the team at Steve Boyd, PC. Steve Boyd, PC, is proud to announce that partner Leah Costanzo represented four of the five plaintiffs who secured $8.4 million in settlements against the Cheektowaga Maryvale Union Free School District. Including the…
FAQs Maryland Priest Abuse
What if I was sexually abused by a priest who is no longer alive?
It does not matter if the predator who sexually abused you is alive. Most cases under the Maryland Child Victim Act will be brought against the institutions covering up the abuse and were complicit in it. For example, a case involving a Roman Catholic priest who sexually abused children decades ago would be against the Archdiocese of Baltimore. This is a case of negligent retention and supervision. Because the archdiocese had the opportunity to stop the abuse when they first knew about it, but instead, they covered it up.
If I was abused by a priest in Maryland, how much would the case be worth?
The Maryland Child Victims Act places a cap on the amount of non-economic damages that can be recovered in a lawsuit. Non-economic damages are the damages for pain and suffering that were sustained by the person who was sexually abused. That includes the pain suffered during the abuse in the years that followed. The maximum amount in Maryland is $1.5 million.
What will happen if the Archdiocese of Baltimore files for bankruptcy?
We have represented over 500 people in diocesan bankruptcies. Our firm has been involved in multiple diocesan bankruptcies. Over two dozen dioceses around the country have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is not the end of the road for a claim for child sexual abuse. The archdiocese still has assets, including land, cash, and investments. Additionally, insurance coverage protects the archdiocese from claims for the negligent retention and supervision of their predator priests.
Many 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-19 pandemic. It takes an experienced attorney to proceed with a claim for damages. Contact Steve Boyd, PC, today for a free, confidential case evaluation.