NEW JERSEY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting for Survivors of New Jersey Catholic Schools Sexual Abuse

The Catholic Church has been marred by widespread allegations of sexual abuse for years. Unfortunately, schools run by the Catholic Church are no exception.  Allegations of sexual abuse in New Jersey Catholic schools are far reaching and span decades. But together, we can fight back against such insidious abuse.

Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating and taking action against abusive New Jersey clergy and those who perpetrate and enable sexual abuse against students in New Jersey Catholic Schools and other New Jersey schools.

If you were abused in a New Jersey Catholic School, Levy Konigsberg’s team of experienced attorneys is here to support you. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.

History of Sexual Abuse in New Jersey Catholic Schools

Examples of alleged abuse, and of conditions likely to lead to abuse within New Jersey Catholic Schools, include the following:

Paramus Catholic High School (Archdiocese of Newark)

• In December 2025, a new lawsuit was filed against Paramus Catholic High School, the Archdiocese of Newark, and Christian Brothers on behalf of a former student. The lawsuit alleges the student was sexually abused in the mid-to-late 1980s by Bernard Garris, former hockey coach, and Donn Ernst, former gym teacher. Both men have been named in previous lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct involving students.

The suit alleges the defendants placed these men in positions of authority, which gave them unchecked access to vulnerable students. The complaint further alleges school and church officials knew these individuals posed a threat to students but failed to take action to prevent the abuse. At least 15 other former students have come forward alleging sexual abuse involving Paramus Catholic.

• In May 2023, Levy Konigsberg filed lawsuits on behalf of former students against the Paramus Catholic High School, the Archdiocese of Newark, and the Christian Brothers.  Four victims alleged they were sexually abused by Bernard Garris, a former hockey coach at Paramus Catholic High School, and two of the lawsuits also accuse former gym teacher Donn Ernst of sexual abuse. All four plaintiffs said they were abused throughout their four years in high school. The suits say the former students were abused on school grounds and on school-sanctioned athletic trips. The suits further claim that Paramus Catholic, the Archdiocese and the Christian Brothers covered up the abuse for years and refused to take steps to stop the abuse by Garris and Ernst. At least 11 other former students have accused Garris of sexual abuse.

In March 2021, another former student filed a lawsuit, claiming that Garris allegedly groomed him and sexually assaulted him at school, in the coach’s car, and at hotels during trips for competitions. One lawsuit alleged that Garris sexually abused a minor student hundreds of times over three years, starting in 1981. Other lawsuits accused Garris of groping and inappropriately touching students, forcing a student to perform oral sex and engage in sodomy, and taking “pornographic” photos of an underage boy. He was also accused of routinely putting his hands down students’ pants in the locker room and grabbing them. Some of the alleged abuse happened during hockey camp trips to Minnesota, where Garris was alone with players in a hotel.

In August 2020, two lawsuits were filed alleging Garris of sexual abuse. The lawsuits also claimed that the school, the Archdiocese of Newark, and the archbishop allegedly knew about the abuse but did nothing to stop it. Garris was accused of abusing one of the victims between 1985 and 1986 and the other between 1986 and 1988, when they were around 14 and 15 years old. The alleged abuse happened during school athletic trips and on school grounds.

Delbarton School

• 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.

Saint Thomas Aquinas High School

• In May 2025, Axel Palomares, a Spanish teacher and soccer coach at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in Edison, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with creating and possessing child sexual abuse material, child endangerment, and invasion of privacy.  From April 2022 to at least March 2025, Palomares reportedly sexually abused students and taped the abuse in his classroom.  According to law enforcement, Palomares secretly photographed and filmed images of unaware undergarment-clad children and students in compromising positions at the school and at stores and restrooms at Bridgewater and Short Hills malls.

Pope John High School (Diocese of Paterson)

• In May 2024, Michael F. Wagner, former teacher at Pope John and Reverend Brown Elementary School, admitted to taking hundreds of “upskirt” videos and photos of female students. He also admitted to having child pornography.  

• In February 2019, former priest James Scott was added to the Diocese of Paterson’s list of credibly accused priests. Scott had worked at Pope John High School and other churches and schools in New Jersey, including Paul VI High School in Clifton, Our Lady Star of the Sea in Lake Hopatcong, and DePaul High School in Wayne.

Saint Joseph Regional High School

• In October 2021, lawsuits were filed against the Catholic Church in New Jersey, including allegations of abuse by former teachers at St. Joseph Regional High in Montvale.  

• In July 2020, several lawsuits were filed against the Newark Archdiocese involving allegations of sexual abuse at Saint Joseph Regional High School, including two members of the Xaverian Brothers religious order who worked at the school during the 1980s, Br. John Dagwell and Br. Peter Russell.

Dagwell pleaded guilty in 1988 to charges concerning allegations of sexual abuse of a student at the school. 

The church allegedly covered up the abuse.

Bergen Catholic High School

• In June 2021, Bergen Catholic High School was embroiled in controversy after it was revealed that James E. Cooper, who had spent decades photographing the school’s soccer games, was previously arrested in 1982 for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old boy. The revelation of his past raised concerns about his proximity to students and the lack of background checks. 

• In April 2018, a former student filed a lawsuit against Bergen Catholic High School, alleging that wrestling coaches and church officials worked together to cover up sexual and verbal abuse at the school. The wrestling coaches were accused of allegedly sharing pornographic images with team members, watching wrestlers undress, and sending inappropriate text messages to athletes.

St. Agnes Catholic School

• In April 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Rev. Joseph Farrell, former pastor of St. Agnes Catholic School in Atlantic Highlands forallegedly grooming and repeatedly raping a 13-year-old student between 1989 and 1990. The victim was allegedly abused by Farrell more than 50 times. Farrell reportedly touched the victim’s genitals and, on at least one occasion, performed oral sex on him. 

Don Bosco Preparatory High School

• In March 2021, reports indicated that at least five sexual abuse lawsuits were filed over the previous 15 months against the Salesians of Don Bosco which operates Don Bosco Preparatory High School in New Jersey. 

The religious order published a list of clergy credibly accused of child abuse, which included 10 individuals who worked at Don Bosco Preparatory High School. 

Red Bank Catholic School and St. James Church in Red Bank (Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton)

• In September 2020, a former student filed a lawsuit alleging that Fr. Francis McGrath sexually abused him in the 1980s while he attended St. James Church and Red Bank Catholic School. McGrath allegedly abused several children at both schools. 

Camden Catholic High School

• In August 2020, Bridget Sipera, teacher and girls’ lacrosse coach at Camden Catholic High School in New Jersey, was charged for repeatedly sexually assaulting a student at the school.

• In 2019, the Diocese of Camden released a list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse, naming staff members affiliated with Camden Catholic High School in New Jersey, including:
  • Joseph Barber
  • Gerald P. Clements
  • Thomas M. Harkins
  • Frank X. Hudson
  • Charles E. Kuhl
  • Joseph Orsini
  • Peter J. Osinski
  • Walter T. Reilly
  • Francis L. Salamandra
  • Brendan Sullivan

St. Peter’s Preparatory School

• In December 2018, the USA Northeast Province Jesuits released their list of 50 priests credibly accused of child sexual abuse, naming individuals who were affiliated with St. Peter’s Preparatory School in New Jersey, including:
  • James Kuntz
  • Thomas Denny
  • Cornelius Carr
  • Joseph Fitzpatrick
  • James Gould
  • Eugene O’Brien
  • Anthony Paone
  • John F.X. Bellwoar

Roselle Catholic High School

• In March 2017, Theresa Hrindo, a teacher at Roselle Catholic High School, was charged with allegedly having an illegal sexual relationship with a student. 

Christian Brothers Academy

• In March 2017, Joseph Prioli, a former technology teacher and onetime technology director at Christian Brothers Academy, pled guilty to sexually abusing a child on multiple occasions.  Prioli’s victim was reportedly someone known to Prioli personally and not from the school.  Prioli reportedly admitted that he endangered the child’s welfare by engaging in sexual conduct. The two offenses he pleaded guilty to encompassed actions on diverse dates during different time periods: one of them was between 2004 and 2006, when the child was 10 and 11 years old, and the other from 2009 and 2012, when the victim was 14 through 17, according to the indictment.  Following Prioli’s arrest, the president of Christian Brothers Academy in Middletown, Brother Frank Byrne, stated that Prioli had been a teacher at the school for about 15 years, but had resigned about a year earlier to pursue other work options.

Seton Hall Preparatory School

• In 2017, a former student filed a lawsuit against Seton Hall Preparatory School and the Newark Archdiocese, alleging repeated sexual abuse by Rev. Robert G. Giblin. 

Giblin taught at Seton Hall University between 1961 and 1969 and later became the headmaster of Seton Hall Preparatory School. 

The school and the archdiocese allegedly failed to protect the student from abuse.

In 2002, he was arrested in Montreal during a child prostitution sting operation on accusations of organizing sexual encounters. 

LK is Investigating Sexual Abuse Claims in New Jersey Schools

Levy Konigsberg is investigating cases of sexual abuse and assault that occurred at New Jersey schools.

You may have a potential claim if you were sexually abused in any of the following schools, archdioceses, or districts:

• Paramus Catholic High School
• Christian Brothers Academy
  
• Bergen Catholic High School
• Delbarton School 
• Pope John Regional High School
• Red Bank Catholic School 
• Roselle Catholic High School
• St. Agnes Catholic School
• Saint Thomas Aquinas High School
• Seton Hall Preparatory School
• Saint Joseph Regional High School
• Don Bosco Preparatory High School
• St. Peter’s Preparatory School
• Camden Catholic High School

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.