BCP

New York Rabbi Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Did a rabbi betray your trust?

Did you or a loved one suffer sexual abuse at the hands of a rabbi in New York? You shouldn’t have to suffer the pain and anguish alone, nor do you have to remain silent any longer. The New York sexual abuse lawyers of Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP are here to stand up for the rights of those who’ve been victimized by church figures who they trusted to guide them. Our compassionate team will listen to your story and pursue aggressive legal action to make sure that you get compensation and a measure of justice.

A May 2012 New York Times story began by telling the story of a man whose mentally disabled teenage son was molested in a Jewish ritual bathhouse in Brooklyn, but went on to describe how victims of sexual abuse “often encounter intense intimidation from their neighbors and from rabbinical authorities, aimed at pressuring them to drop their cases.”

A 64-year-old great-grandmother told the Times that her son told rabbinical authorities in 2008 that he was repeatedly groped as a child by a school official at the United Talmudical Academy in Williamsburg. The school removed the official but denied the accusation and ultimately allowed the man to return to teaching after the victim became too old to file a lawsuit under the statute of limitations.

“There is no nice way of saying it,” the woman told the Times. “Our community protects molesters. Other than that, we are wonderful.”

As the Times noted, the estimated 250,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews in New York City represented the largest such community outside of Israel. In many sexual abuse cases, victims came forward to rabbis and rabbinical courts that might investigate the allegations, pledge to monitor the accused, and possibly order payment to a victim, but never refer the matter to authorities.

Were you or your loved one were the victim of sexual abuse by a rabbi? You do not need to live in fear of speaking out about your experience, and you may be able to help others from becoming victims by identifying your abuser.

Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP understands how complicated rabbi sexual abuse cases can be, and we work closely with people to help them gain some measure of justice. You can have our firm answer all of your legal questions as soon as you call (212) 779-0057 or contact us online to receive a free consultation.

Do I Need A Rabbi Sexual Abuse Lawyer?

Having an attorney will greatly increase your chances of securing the most favorable outcome in your case. In addition to possible financial awards a lawyer can help you obtain, they may also be able to achieve meaningful injunctive relief in some cases.

One of the foremost problems in many of these cases concerns all of the time that has usually passed since the abuse occurred. Many people assume that their cases fall outside the statute of limitations, and any claims now would be meaningless, but this is not always the case.

When you have an attorney, they are going to know the forms of legal recourse that could still be available to you, even if your case happens to be several years or decades old. In many cases, the rabbi abusers are still employed by the same institutions.

Everything you share with Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP about your case will be kept completely confidential, so you do not have to worry about unwanted publicity surrounding your case. We will do everything we can to make sure that you can hold your abuser accountable for the harm they have caused.

You will have an entire team of skilled lawyers on your side when you work with Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP. Stanley Spero has been rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, a designation trusted worldwide by buyers and referrers of legal services that apply to about 10 percent of all attorneys.

Hillary M. Nappi is licensed in both New York and New Jersey. Michael A. Rose was named a Top Lawyer by New York Magazine and a Super Lawyer by New York Super Lawyers.

Halina Radchenko is a member of the Columbian Lawyers Association, Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association, Brooklyn Bar Association, and New York State Trial Lawyers Association. John A. Blyth is a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and New York City Bar Association.

Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP will also provide legal representation on a contingency fee basis. This means that you only pay if you recover a financial award.

Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP understands that sexual abuse can have complex and lasting effects on victims. Our firm is familiar with many of the profound effects of this kind of abuse.

We regularly assist people who are dealing with serious psychological effects of sexual abuse that can include, but are not limited to:

  • Depression
  • Guilt
  • Shame
  • Self-blame
  • Eating disorders
  • Somatic concerns
  • Anxiety
  • Dissociative patterns
  • Repression
  • Denial
  • Sexual problems
  • Relationship problems

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that includes flashbacks and nightmares can also stem from sexual abuse. Some victims may become suicidal.

Some victims will also have physical effects from their sexual abuse. In many cases, this can include sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), but physical effects can also include genital injuries, gynecological complications, and chronic pain.

Similar to psychological effects, some victims will also be affected socially. These victims may become more isolated and could avoid any intimate encounters with other people because of the abuse.

Rabbi sexual abuse cases can vary widely depending on several factors. The date of the abuse, how long the abuse lasted, and your age at the time of the abuse can all be important factors to your case. Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP will work closely with you to help you prepare the most persuasive possible case and fight to see that you can get justice.

Do I still have a case if my abuser has died?

It is possible to be eligible to seek compensation, even if your abuse is no longer alive. When a rabbi dies, the institution that employed them could still be responsible if it allowed the abuser to remain a rabbi after learning of sexual abuse.

Will my failure to immediately report the sexual abuse hurt my claim?

Absolutely not. Many children who are victims of sexual abuse disclose those experiences. It can take several years before victims can muster the courage even to tell the people they trust the most, such as parents. In general, you want to report sexual abuse as soon as possible, but it is understandable why child victims may be fearful of disclosing what happened.

What kinds of compensation could I be entitled to?

The compensation you are awarded will depend on the specifics of your case. Multiple factors such as the type of abuse you endured, how long the abuse lasted, and how long ago it occurred could all impact what you receive. Many cases will result in settlements, and a settlement is intended to cover all past, present, and future costs a victim has to deal with because of their abuse.

If a sexual abuse case goes to trial, then the compensatory damages a jury awards could provide for specific economic or noneconomic damages. Economic damages in these cases could include tangible costs like therapy or medical bills, while noneconomic damages are for emotional or psychological harm such as pain and suffering or emotional distress.

On July 19, 2018, the Jerusalem Post reported that a study by two Orthodox Jewish researchers surveyed more than 300 participants over three years and was published in the July 2018 issue of the  Child Abuse & Neglect journal. The study included 100 participants Orthodox from birth, 98 Orthodox later in life, 138 non-Orthodox, and 36 raised Orthodox who later left.

The study found that individuals who left the Orthodox community were over four times as likely to have been molested as children than the general population. Victims who left the community were more likely to report abuse than those who remained.

On August 22, 2019, the Associated Press reported that 38 former students of an Orthodox Jewish school in New York City operated by Yeshiva University filed a lawsuit over claims that two prominent rabbis molested them in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The lawsuit was one of many filed after New York state provided a one-year window for sexual abuse lawsuits that had been previously barred by the state statute of limitations.

A 2007 study in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that 26 percent of its Orthodox female study participants experienced sexual abuse within the community. Furthermore, more ultra-Orthodox women reported abuse than modern Orthodox women.

According to the Arthur Gross Schaefer paper “Rabbi Sexual Misconduct: Crying Out for a Communal Response,” one study found that 73 percent of women rabbis who responded had experienced sexual harassment. An unpublished survey of ministers from 1984 found that more than 38.6 percent of those surveyed admitted having sexual contact with church members and 12.7 percent had intercourse, while 76.5 percent of ministers acknowledged knowing other ministers who had intercourse with a congregant.

If you or your loved one were a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a rabbi whom you trusted, you deserve to have your voice heard. Our team of experienced and aggressive trial attorneys will stand up for you and will make sure that you get the maximum compensation available to you. We are here to help you find your voice, tell your story, and prevent this from happening again to others in your situation. You didn't deserve what happened to you, and you do deserve to see that justice is served.

Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP fights for rabbi sexual abuse victims of all ages in all areas of New York. Call us at 646-685-8045 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Contact Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP right now at (212) 779-0057 for a FREE, discreet consultation
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