CATHOLIC MEMORIAL SCHOOL SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting For Survivors Sexually Abused at Catholic Memorial School in Massachusetts

Catholic Memorial School sexual abuse lawsuits involve allegations students were allegedly harmed by faculty, clergy, and staff.

Levy Konigsberg is investigating claims that students were subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation by personnel at Catholic Memorial School in Massachusetts.

Catholic Memorial School is a private Catholic school in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. Reported allegations connected to the school have involved claims of abuse by teachers, clergy, and athletic staff, including allegations of grooming, sexual misconduct, inappropriate communications, and failures by school leadership to respond to warning signs or protect students from harm.

If you or a loved one was harmed, contact us today.

History of Sexual Abuse at Catholic Memorial School in Massachusetts 

Examples of alleged abuse, and of conditions likely to lead to abuse, include the following:

• In June 2014, reports revealed a history of alleged sexual abuse involving faculty and staff at Catholic Memorial School in Massachusetts. 

In 1983, allegations surfaced that English teacher Benjamin Hopkins had sexually abused at least one student. A sexual abuse claim against him was settled, and he was accused of abusing at least two students in his apartment and other locations.

In 1986, Br. Michael Walsh allegedly took sexually explicit and nude photographs of students during a camping trip. 

Br. George Paramo was accused of voyeurism by many students in the locker room of the school and at a local sports venue. 

Assistant Athletic Director James Cerbo allegedly sent sexually explicit messages to students.

• In 1981, a staff member notified school authorities that Msgr. Frederick J. Ryan, former chaplain, allegedly sexually abused students in the 1980s. 

In 2002, two students went public with allegations of abuse.

In January 2003, a Superior Court judge ruled that a civil lawsuit against Msgr. Frederick J. Ryan could move forward. It alleged that Ryan sexually assaulted a student at Catholic Memorial High School in 1981. 

Do I Have a Case?

You may have grounds to file a civil legal action if:

• You were sexually abused by a teacher or staff at a school.
• The abuse occurred at any school.

Levy Konigsberg represents survivors in civil lawsuits that aim to hold schools accountable for their failures to stop abusive teachers and staff.

As civil claims, these cases are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse and focus instead on holding institutions liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:

• Your abuser is no longer alive.
• Your abuser was never charged with or convicted of a crime.

Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims

In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:

• Past medical and mental health expenses
• Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and psychological harm
• Lost income
• Other economic and non-economic damages

Massachusetts Sexual Abuse Attorneys

In 2015, Massachusetts lawmakers passed groundbreaking legislation to greatly expand the rights of child sexual abuse survivors. Specifically, these legislative amendments gave survivors, whom research has shown can take years or decades to process their abuse and its resulting impact on their lives, far more time to file civil lawsuits than what was previously provided for under the law.

Claims against abusers

Under current Massachusetts law (Chapter 260 § 4C), survivors of child sexual abuse must file civil claims against their abuser within 35 years of the final act of abuse or within 7 years of discovering that they suffered damages as a result of their abuse, whichever is later.

There are two important facts about the law and its application in child sexual abuse cases:

• The statute of limitations can be “tolled” until child victims turn 18, which means that survivors have 35 years from the date they turn 18 to file civil claims.
• The statute contains a “delayed discovery” provision allowing child victims to file claims within 7 years of discovering that they suffered damages due to their abuse. This means that victims may still be eligible to file civil lawsuits even if it has been more than 35 years since their abuse, provided they had not previously discovered the connection between their abuse and resulting damages, which may include addiction, anxiety, depression, and other emotional and psychological injuries.

Claims against others, including organizations responsible for the abuse

A separate Massachusetts law governs claims against persons or entities other than the abuser, such as the operator of a facility who allowed the abuse to occur. Under this law, survivors of child sexual abuse that occurred after June 2014 may file civil claims against persons or entities other than the abuser within 35 years of the final act of abuse. 

The “delayed discovery” rule allowing survivors to file within 7 years of discovering that they suffered damages due to their abuse applies the same as in claims against abusers.

Massachusetts’ current statute of limitations for child sexual abuse survivors provides far more time for survivors to take legal action than the previous law, but advocates and some lawmakers are still pushing to eliminate the statute of limitations entirely in child sexual abuse cases. There is currently a proposed bill (S.1038) that is making its way through the state Legislature that would do just that.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse at a Massachusetts Catholic school, our dedicated legal team is ready to guide you through the process and fight relentlessly for the justice and compensation you deserve.

Determining the statute of limitations that applies to your sexual abuse case against a Massachusetts school can be challenging, which is why it is best to bring your matter to the attention of an experienced lawyer.

We are committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and seeking justice for survivors of sexual abuse in schools. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing legal representation and support to survivors, and we are actively investigating allegations of abuse. We are working tirelessly to ensure that survivors have access to justice and that future generations of young people are safe from harm within these institutions.