Partner Andy Freeman was quoted in a recent article by The Baltimore Sun, in which he discussed the impact on child sexual abuse survivors, should the Archdiocese of Baltimore file for bankruptcy ahead of Maryland’s new Child Victims Act being enacted.
This legislation lifts a previous statute of limitations on filing claims for childhood sexual abuse. Before the Child Victims Act, a survivor had only until 20 years past the age of consent, or up to age 38, to file civil lawsuits against offenders. With less than a month until the bill goes in effect, the Baltimore Archdiocese is considering filing for bankruptcy in the wake of anticipated lawsuits. This comes after the Maryland Attorney General’s Office released their findings of its investigation into child sex abuse within the archdiocese. The report detailed cases of over 600 children who were sexually abused and tortured by priests and other archdiocese staff over the past 80 years, and said hundreds more likely had gone unreported, according to the Baltimore Sun.
“At the end of the day, we are looking forward to obtaining justice for survivors of abuse by clergy and other people related to the church,” Andy told The Sun. “They can run, but they can’t hide. We will eventually find all the assets and do our best to compensate survivors for the egregious treatment they received at the hands of the church.”
Andy further explained that although the Baltimore Archdiocese filing for bankruptcy may slow the legal process down, and even reduce the amount survivors receive from what a jury might award them, survivors could still receive a substantial payout.
Andy highlighted the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, which filed for bankruptcy in January 2015 and agreed to create a $210 million settlement fund three years later – a fund from which more than 400 survivors of child sex abuse would be compensated. That works out roughly to an average of $500,000 for each survivor.
If the Baltimore Archdiocese does choose to file bankruptcy before the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse crimes lifts on October 1, survivors would have to file by a certain date chosen by the court, undercutting the intention of the Child Victims Act in allowing extended time for claimants to file.
At Brown, Goldstein & Levy, we know it is difficult to recall traumatic memories, let alone discuss them. But even if the assault happened many years ago, you may be able to file a lawsuit for compensation now. Our attorneys have experience with difficult sexual assault cases and have won million-dollar and multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements in favor of survivors. We maintain absolute confidentiality and will only move forward if and when you are ready to do so. To learn more about our practice and how we help share your story and begin to right the decades of abuse you and others have faced, please contact us today for a confidential consultation.
Read the full Baltimore Sun article here.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ANDY FREEMAN
Andy Freeman obtains justice for his clients. He has won numerous verdicts, judgments, and settlements of millions, tens of millions, and in one case over a billion dollars by mastering the relevant law and getting to know his clients, their problems, and the evidence in their cases. In one case, Andy won a verdict of $15 million for a survivor of child sexual abuse. In another, he secured a $1 million verdict in a counter-suit on behalf of a girl who was sexually abused by a lawyer, after the lawyer-abuser sued for defamation—a result that was recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the “Top Wins of 2000.” Andy has long been a tenacious advocate for the wellbeing of children, both inside and outside of court. He has served as a board member and board president of the Family Tree (formerly the Child Abuse Prevention Center of Maryland) and of the Family League of Baltimore City, and as a board member for Safe and Sound: Baltimore’s Campaign for Children, Youth and Families. Andy was also a volunteer with the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Baltimore, a nonprofit that fights for the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in Baltimore’s foster care system, which awarded him multiple CASA Recognition Awards, and he and his wife (the former Executive Director of the Baltimore Child Abuse Center) were Baltimore City foster parents.
Founded in 1982, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a law firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, with an office in Washington, D.C. The firm is nationally recognized in a wide variety of practice areas, including complex civil and commercial litigation, civil rights, health care, family law, and criminal defense. Above all else, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a client-centered law firm that brings decades of experience and passionate, effective advocacy to your fight for justice.