DELBARTON SCHOOL SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting for Survivors of Delbarton School in New Jersey

If you’re a survivor of abuse at the Delbarton School, Levy Konigsberg is ready to stand with you and to fight for the justice and recognition you’re entitled to. Let’s ignite change together; reach out, share your story, and let’s start rewriting the narrative, one courageous step at a time.

History of Sexual Abuse at Delbarton School in New Jersey

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

• In October 2025, a jury awarded $5 million to a former student of the Delbarton School who alleged he was sexually assaulted by a monk at the school, the Rev. Richard Lott, approximately half a century ago.  The Plaintiff, T.M.,’s case is the first of 39 pending abuse cases to go to trial against Delbarton.  Now 65, T.M. also accused the Benedictine order of enabling Lott’s abuse.  On the stand, T.M. alleged that Lott plied him with liquor at an off-campus party on New Year’s Eve 1975 before driving him to the barn on the grounds of Delbarton where Lott lived. He said he was “tipsy” when Lott pulled down his pants and performed oral sex on him.  Back in 2018, Delbarton publicly acknowledged that at least 30 men had come forward with allegations that, over the course of three decades, they had been victimized by 13 past or current priests and monks at the school and by a lay faculty member who is now retired.

• In August 2025, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) demanded that Auxiliary Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, school leader and a potential successor for Cardinal Joseph Tobin in the Archdiocese of Newark, beremoved from consideration because of his role in enabling abuse at the Delbarton School.   Lorenzo reportedly served in several leadership positions at the Delbarton School, including Director of Liturgy, Director of Monastic Formation, Prior of St. Mary’s Abbey, and Rector of the Abbey Church. SNAP claims that under his leadership, several instances of child sexual abuse occurred within the all-boys Catholic high school.  SNAP specifically cites that in 2018, school officials disclosed that 13 monks and one lay teacher had been “credibly accused of abusing 30 known victims that courageously came forward.” SNAP claims these cases of abuse were “quietly settled,” with accused clergymen being allowed to remain at St. Mary’s Abbey under “undisclosed restrictions.”

• In June 2012, two more former students joined a lawsuit claiming they were sexually abused at Delbarton School in Morristown and St. Mary’s Abbey during the 1970s and 1980s. One of them alleged sexual abuse by Father Benedict Worry, while the other alleged abuse by Father Timothy Brennan.

The Order of St. Benedict, which runs the Delbarton School, currently faces 32 pending lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by at least 12 monks and one lay teacher, with accusations spanning from 1967 to 2000. 

Recent lawsuits accused two monks and a lay teacher of abusing 10 children from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s. 

Brennan, in particular, has been the subject of 29 public accusations, including abuse of six children in the 1970s and 1980s. He pleaded guilty in 1987 to aggravated sexual contact with a 15-year-old student, leading to a $1 million settlement. Over the past five years, the order settled nine additional lawsuits related to Brennan.

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

New Jersey Sexual Abuse Attorneys

In New Jersey, the statute of limitations previously imposed a strict deadline for victims of sexual abuse to file claims or seek compensation. However, recognizing the lasting impact of sexual abuse and the obstacles survivors face in pursuing justice, the state enacted the Child Victims Act in 2019. This landmark legislation significantly extended the statute of limitations for civil sexual abuse cases. The law provides more opportunities for victims to seek justice and compensation, acknowledging the complexities and challenges associated with reporting and prosecuting sexual abuse.

Under New Jersey law, specifically NJ Stat. § 2A:14-2a, survivors of sexual abuse now have an extended timeframe to pursue legal action.  Childhood sexual abuse victims can file civil claims until age 55 or seven years after recognizing the trauma, whichever is later. This allows survivors to seek justice against their abusers and any liable institutions. For those sexually abused as adults (age 18 or older), the deadline to file a civil lawsuit is seven years from the incident of abuse.

Seeking legal guidance is crucial when navigating the complexities of the statute of limitations. Your attorney can review your case, explain the statute of limitations to you, and assist you in determining if you are eligible to file a lawsuit.

Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating allegations of sexual abuse in New Jersey Catholic Schools and other New Jersey schools.

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.