MICHIGAN CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Representing Clergy Abuse Lawsuits in Michigan

Michigan Catholic dioceses face ongoing investigations into clergy sexual abuse, with hundreds of credibly accused priests identified across the state.

Levy Konigsberg is investigating claims that clergy members across Michigan’s Catholic dioceses sexually abused minors and adults over several decades.

Michigan’s seven Roman Catholic dioceses — the Diocese of Marquette, Diocese of Gaylord, Diocese of Saginaw, Diocese of Grand Rapids, Diocese of Kalamazoo, Diocese of Lansing, and the Archdiocese of Detroit — have all been the subject of a sweeping statewide investigation launched by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. The investigation has identified hundreds of credibly accused priests and clergy members and hundreds of victims, with evidence that church leadership worked to conceal abuse, protect accused priests, and keep survivors silent. Criminal charges have been filed against multiple clergy members, and additional reports covering each diocese continue to be released.

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

What is Clergy Abuse?

Clergy abuse refers to the misconduct or wrongdoing committed by members of the clergy, which includes individuals such as priests, ministers, pastors, rabbis, imams, and other religious leaders. This abuse can encompass a wide range of behaviors, but it often involves sexual, emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, or psychological harm inflicted by a member of the clergy upon individuals under their spiritual care or authority.

The most well-known form of clergy abuse is sexual abuse, where clergy members exploit their positions of trust and authority to engage in inappropriate or illegal sexual activities with minors or vulnerable adults. However, clergy abuse is not limited to sexual misconduct; it can also include actions such as financial exploitation, emotional manipulation, spiritual coercion, and other forms of abuse of power.

Clergy abuse is a serious and deeply troubling issue that has had significant social, psychological, and legal implications in many communities. Cases of clergy abuse have led to lawsuits, criminal prosecutions, investigations, and widespread discussions about accountability within religious institutions. Many religious organizations have implemented policies and procedures to prevent and address clergy abuse, and there have been efforts to support survivors and provide resources for healing.

Investigations Show Pervasive Clergy Sex Abuse Problem in Michigan Catholic Churches

The scope of sexual abuse within Michigan Catholic churches has been documented by several sweeping investigations, including one being conducted by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office that was initiated in 2018, and numerous criminal and civil filings involving accused priests.

While the state’s primary investigations are still ongoing, it has already revealed that hundreds of priests and clergy members in all seven Michigan dioceses sexually abused hundreds of victims over the course of decades. Investigations have also found evidence that church leadership worked to conceal and cover up abuse, protect accused priests, and keep survivors silent.

Here are details about the recent investigations and criminal cases involving sexual abuse with Michigan Catholic churches:

• In June 2026, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a report detailing allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct at the Diocese of Saginaw dating back to 1950. The report identified 38 individuals — 37 priests and one deacon — with allegations of sexual misconduct against children or adults.

• In January 2024, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office released its second report on clergy sexual abuse, focusing on the Diocese of Gaylord, detailing numerous allegations of abuse, and addressing cases where statutes of limitations or the death of priests prevented criminal charges. According to the report, approximately 85% of the alleged incidents of sexual abuse against minors and adults occurred before 2000, with the largest number of allegations related to incidents in the 1970s. The attorney general’s report on allegations in the Gaylord Diocese is the second related to its statewide investigation of Michigan’s seven dioceses, which began in October 2018.
• In June 2023, former Flint-area Priest Vincent DeLorenzo was sentenced to a year in jail and probation after pleading guilty to a single count of attempted first-degree criminal sexual conduct. DeLorenzo was originally charged with seven felonies involving two victims but pleaded guilty to only one charge connected to his sexual assault of a 5-year-old boy following a funeral service for the victim’s family member in 1987.
• In October 2022, Michigan AG Dana Nessel released a report on sexual abuse within the Diocese of Marquette, the first of seven reports that will chronicle sexual abuse allegations in each of Michigan’s Catholic dioceses. The report names 44 Marquette priests accused of sexual abuse or grooming behavior dating back to the 1940s, with a significant number of the allegations dating back before the 1980s. While most of the accused priests are deceased, two of the 12 living priests have been charged criminally. This includes Father Aaron Nowicki, who was arrested in connection to a child trafficking operation in 2021, and Father Gary Jacobs, who was convicted in 2022 for crimes committed in the 1980s. Two other priests from the diocese, Father Terrance Healy and Father Norbert LaCrosse, were convicted of sex crimes in 1987 and 1991.
• In October 2020, officials from the Michigan AG’s Office released preliminary findings from the first two years of its investigation. At that time, investigators had identified 454 accused priests and 811 victims, and had filed criminal charges against 11 clergymen. The 2020 AG report noted that victims and accused clergy were found in all seven of the state’s dioceses, with the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo Dioceses having the most.

LK Investigating Clergy Sex Abuse Across Michigan

While every case is different, you may have a potential claim if you have been abused by a clergy member from any of Michigan’s seven Roman Catholic Dioceses. These Michigan churches have been subject to sex abuse of children and young men complaints:

• Diocese of Marquette
• Diocese of Gaylord
• Diocese of Saginaw
• Diocese of Grand Rapids
• Diocese of Kalamazoo
• Diocese of Lansing
• Archdiocese of Detroit

It is important to note that there is no requirement for your abuser to have been criminally convicted to file a claim. In fact, you can still pursue legal action in civil court even if your abuser was found innocent in a criminal case or never criminally charged.

List of Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse or Misconduct in the Diocese of Saginaw

• Deacon Richard L. Howard, Sr.
• Fr. Rembert Badarzynski, O.F.M.
• Fr. Stanislaus Albert Bur
• Fr. Arthur Cooney, O.F.M. Cap
• Fr. Robert J. DeLand, Jr.
• Fr. Ronald J. Dombrowski
• Msgr. Eugene Anthony Forbes
• Fr. Max Vernon Joseph Frego
• Fr. Camillus Frigo, O.Praem (Norbertine)
• Fr. James Francis Gavit
• Fr. John (“Jack”) F. Gentner
• Fr. John (“Jack”) Edward Hammer
• Fr. Sigmund John Haremski
• Fr. Denis Matthew Heames
• Fr. Martin Ignatius Kalahar
• Fr. Dale Ovid LaBrie
• Fr. John (“Jack”) J. Leipert
• Fr. James Andrew Marron, C.S.Sp
• Fr. Ramon T. Matuszewski
• Fr. Francis McHugh, O. Praem
• Fr. James Aloysius Mulvey
• Fr. Neil Francis O’Connor
• Fr. January Padlo, O.F.M.
• Fr. Raymond John Pilarski
• Fr. Richard C. Ratajczak
• Fr. Terrence Andrew Raymond
• Fr. Joseph W. Roach
• Fr. Frederick William Ryan
• Fr. Joseph Dale Ryan
• Fr. Thomas William Ryan
• Fr. Vernon J. Sierminski
• Fr. Robert Gordon Smith
• Fr. Stephen Sramek, O.S.B.
• Fr. Kenneth Charles Stewart, O.F.M., Cap
• Fr. Richard Thomas Szafranski
• Fr. Joseph Szarek (a/k/a Fr. Joseph Shar)
• Fr. William R. Taylor
• Fr. Leonard Francis Wilkuski

Do I Have A Case?

You may have a sexual abuse claim against the Catholic Church if:

• You were sexually abused as a minor or an adult within the Church.
• The abuser was a priest, clergy member, or some other Church volunteer or employee.
• Your abuse occurred at any time in the past.

As with civil sexual abuse cases, claims filed with the bankruptcy settlement fund are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse. Instead, they focus on holding the Archdiocese liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:

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

Determining whether you have grounds to pursue a claim can be challenging, which is why our team at Levy Konigsberg is readily available to help.

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

Michigan Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Under Michigan law, a person who was the victim of a sex crime may be entitled to file a civil lawsuit for financial compensation.  A sexual abuse case must be filed within the statute of limitations, which is the timeframe within which a survivor can file a civil lawsuit. Under Michigan law, survivors sexually assaulted under the age of 18 may have until age 28 to file a lawsuit.  To understand the statute of limitations for your case, it's essential to consult with an experienced lawyer. At Levy Konigsberg, our attorneys specialize in handling both childhood sexual abuse cases and adult sexual abuse cases. We can assess the merits of your potential case and determine how the Michigan statute of limitations specifically applies to the facts of your case.