NEW HAMPSHIRE CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Representing Survivors of Child & Adult Clergy Abuse

If you or someone you love were sexually abused by a member of the Catholic clergy in New Hampshire, you may be entitled to compensation.

In recent years, various record releases and court filings have produced evidence of a rampant sexual abuse problem within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester. 

In addition to revealing that more than 43 priests and clergy members have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse in parishes across the state, the records also show that church officials engaged in a decades-long coverup that enabled predator priests to abuse children without consequence to their actions.

As more survivors are increasingly stepping forward to seek justice and hold the Church accountable, our award-winning attorneys at Levy Konigsberg are here to help.

Internal Records Reveal Long List of Accused Clergy in New Hampshire

Like other Roman Catholic Dioceses that have been forced to respond to high-profile scandals, the Diocese of Manchester is now facing high-profile scandals. In New Hampshire alone, the names of the priests who have been held guilty, those who are undergoing trial, and the investigations priests are facing are now coming to light. The names are also shared and posted on a specific website.

As of 2023, the Manchester Diocese’s list of credibly accused priests includes names broken down into several categories. These include:

• Credibly accused with cases concluded –  27
• Credibly accused with cases in the process of investigation  – 1
• Credibly accused priests accused After Laicization – 4
• Credibly accused deceased Priests – 34
• Credibly Accused Religious Orders – 7

Notably, this list has its limitations. In addition to leaving out critical information about when and where the clergy abuse took place, the list includes only the names of priests who have faced accusations that meet the Church’s definition of a “substantiated allegation.” As such, they leave out many priests and clerics who have been accused of abusing minors in New Hampshire over the years.

Legal Filings Detail Dark History of Sexual Abuse in New Hampshire Catholic Churches

In addition to lists of credibly accused priests released by the Diocese of Manchester, various legal filings, criminal cases, and high-profile settlements have revealed alarming claims about the scope of child sexual abuse and how Church officials failed for decades to report abusive priests and protect victims. Some examples include:

• Monsignor John Boyd (Boyd), a priest in the 1950s, is one of the accused in the settlements reached by the Diocese of New Hampshire. It was stated that while he was overseeing the Holy Trinity School in Laconia, Boyd sexually abused one of the women in the school.
• Another priest accused, this time in the 1970s, is Rev. Gerard Beaudet (Beaudet). According to the credible allegations, while serving as a pastor of Saint Albert’s parish in West Stewartson, Beaudet sexually abused one man and one woman.
• Lawyers are also representing their clients in seeking justice when they cannot face the public because of the sexual abuse trauma. In a lawsuit, a victim claims to have been sexually abused when he was a teenager between the years of 1973 and 1974 by the Reverend Alfred Jannetta (Janetta). 
• Janetta, then a priest for St. Paul Church in Franklin, was alleged to have given the child alcohol and marijuana before abusing him at St. Paul Church in Franklin.
• The first settlement in this case was $950,000 and involved 16 victims. In one settlement, sixty-two people who were abused by priests and employees of the Diocese of Manchester between the 1950s and 1980s settled this lawsuit for $5 million. In the most recent settlement reported on March 26, 2024, the Diocese of Manchester settled a child sexual abuse claim from the 1970s involving a former priest for six figures.

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

New Hampshire Sexual Abuse Attorneys

In recent years, New Hampshire lawmakers have passed groundbreaking legislation to expand the rights of sexual abuse survivors.

This includes the Crime Victims’ Right Enhancement Act of 2020, which eliminated the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits arising from sexual abuse and assault involving victims of all ages.

This law means that survivors who were sexually abused in New Hampshire can file civil lawsuits over abuse that occurred at any time in the past and may file lawsuits even if their claims were barred under the previous law.