WERE YOU SEXUALLY ABUSED BY A PRIEST OR CHURCH MEMBER IN NEW YORK?
You May Be Entitled To Substantial Compensation
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NEW YORK CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE LAWYERS
Seeking Justice through Clergy Abuse Lawsuits in New York
New York clergy sexual abuse lawyers represent survivors alleging they were abused by priests and church officials amid decades of alleged cover-ups.
Levy Konigsberg is investigating claims that children were allegedly sexually abused by clergy members throughout New York Catholic dioceses.
Catholic dioceses across New York have faced lawsuits, bankruptcy proceedings, investigations, and major settlement agreements tied to allegations of child sexual abuse by priests, clergy members, and church personnel. Legal filings and investigations have also alleged that church leadership concealed abuse claims, transferred accused clergy between parishes, and failed to protect children from repeated sexual abuse over several decades.
Thanks to various investigations, legal filings, and internal record releases, we know that hundreds of children were sexually abused by priests and clergy members in all eight of New York’s Catholic Dioceses.
Records have also revealed that church leadership woefully failed to protect victims by shielding predator priests from consequences and enabling a pervasive abuse problem that dates back decades.
Now, a growing number of survivors across New York are taking advantage of new laws and groundbreaking legislation to seek justice from the Church.
At Levy Konigsberg, our Catholic church sex abuse attorneys in New York can help you take the next steps in your legal journey. Our firm is a top-rated trial practice known nationally for litigating civil sexual abuse lawsuits against powerful institutions and religious organizations, like the Catholic Church.
Were you sexually abused?
History of Abuse & Cover-Ups in NY Catholic Dioceses
As in other states across the country, Catholic Dioceses in New York have come under scrutiny for concealing decades of claims accusing priests and other church members of child sexual abuse.
In addition to a sweeping investigation launched by the New York Attorney General’s Office in 2018, various legal filings and high-profile payouts have pieced together an alarming picture of rampant child sexual abuse within New York Catholic Churches, as well as inexcusable failures of church leadership in stopping abuse, reporting abusers, and protecting victims.
Some examples include:
- In May 2026, the Catholic Archdiocese of New York agreed to pay $800 million to settle alleged sexual abuse claims brought by 1,300 survivors. The archdiocese also agreed to release documents pertaining to alleged sexual offenders within the Church.
- In November 2023, the Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, proposed a $200 million settlement for sex abuse claims, facing resistance from a bankruptcy judge who demanded more detailed financial information. The diocese’s plan includes $50 million in cash from itself and an additional $150 million contributed by its parishes and other Catholic organizations. This proposed payout would be the largest settlement offer ever made in a Catholic diocese bankruptcy, both in total and per claimant basis, according to Rockville Centre. The proposal aims to resolve around 600 sex abuse claims but has been stalled, prompting skepticism from abuse survivors’ representatives.
- In July 2023, the Syracuse Diocese and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors reached a settlement. This agreement comes after the diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June. However, the settlement is pending final court approval before it can be officially implemented. Survivors of sexual abuse within the Syracuse Catholic Diocese will receive a part of $100 million in payments through the settlement of the diocese’s bankruptcy case.
- In July 2023, the Diocese of Ogdensburg has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in the wake of more than 100 sexual abuse lawsuits. In a letter, Bishop Terry LaValley said the reorganization is in response to the 138 lawsuits filed against the diocese under New York state’s Child Victims Act. The cases go back decades, from 1940 to 1990.
- In May 2023, a Rochester jury awarded $95 million in damages to a local man who was sexually abused as a minor in 1979 by former Rochester-area priest Foster P. Rogers. Rogers, who was an assistant pastor at St. Alphonsus in Auburn at the time of the abuse, has faced other allegations of child sex abuse and was removed from his ministerial post in 2002. According to internal records, Rogers had been moved across different churches by the Rochester Diocese.
- In March 2023, the Diocese of Rochester agreed to pay $75.6 million as part of partial settlement with survivors who were sexually abused as children. The settlement, reached as part of a bankruptcy case with the Diocese and one of its major insurers, included approximately 475 survivors who will still have the right to pursue compensation from the Diocese’s other two insurance carriers.
- In March 2023, the Catholic Diocese of Albany filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to manage liabilities associated with a rising number of child sexual abuse lawsuits. Albany was the fifth of New York’s eight Catholic Dioceses to file for bankruptcy following the flood of claims filed between 2019 and 2021 during the Child Victims Act’s lookback window. At the time of its bankruptcy filing, at least 190 survivors had filed claims against the Diocese.
- In January 2023, lawyers representing over 620 survivors in sexual abuse claims against the Diocese of Rockville Centre proposed a $450 million settlement with the Church. The Rockville Centre Diocese previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 after facing hundreds of lawsuits filed during the Child Victims Act window.
- In November 2020, NY Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the Diocese of Buffalo accusing leadership of covering up sexual abuse by protecting predator priests rather than children. The lawsuit, which followed a two-year investigation by the AG’s Office and the Diocese’s bankruptcy filing, claimed that the Diocese violated nonprofit laws by failing to identify over two dozen priests for potential removal.
- In October 2020, the Diocese of Rockville Centre filed for bankruptcy after it was hit with hundreds of claims filed by survivors who were sexually abused by priests and other clergy members. The Diocese, which serves over 1.4 million parishioners in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, was the third NY Diocese to file for bankruptcy protection following the flood of claims filed under the Child Victims Act. The Rockville Centre’s bankruptcy was preceded by filings from the Diocese of Rochester in 2019 and the Diocese of Buffalo in 2020.
We specialize in sexual abuse lawsuits against powerful institutions. These include government entities (such as prisons, schools, and juvenile detention / juvenile treatment centers), technology companies, and clergy.
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Who Can You Sue in a Sex Abuse Civil Case?
In a sex abuse civil case, the parties you might sue can vary depending on the circumstances of the abuse and the relationships involved.
Some potential parties that could be sued in a sex abuse civil case include:
- Individual Perpetrator: The alleged perpetrator of the sexual abuse can be named as a defendant in the lawsuit. This is often the person who directly committed the abusive acts.
- Institutions and Organizations: If the abuse occurred within an institution or organization, such as a school, church, sports club, or workplace, and they failed to take appropriate action to prevent or address the abuse, they might also be held liable.
- Employers: If the perpetrator was an employee of an organization or institution, the employer might be held vicariously liable for the actions of their employee if the abuse occurred within the scope of their employment.
- Property Owners: If the abuse occurred on a property owned by someone else, and the property owner failed to provide adequate security or take reasonable steps to prevent the abuse, they might be considered liable.
- Government Entities: In some cases, government entities might be involved, especially if the abuse occurred within a state institution or facility. Suing a government entity might involve specific procedures and limitations.
Sex abuse cases can be legally complex, so it's highly advisable to consult with experienced legal professionals who specialize in this area to understand your options and pursue the appropriate legal action. Levy Konigsberg, along with our team of sexual abuse lawyers, is available to provide assistance for your sexual abuse case.
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 York Clergy Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations sets deadlines for victims to bring claims against their abuser or entities responsible for the abuse. New York has pioneered efforts to make it easier for sexual abuse survivors to seek justice and compensation.
In 2019, New York passed the Child Victims Act, expanding the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Under current law: (1) survivors of childhood sexual abuse at privately operated juvenile detention centers who were born after February 14, 1998, have until age 55 to file civil lawsuits; and (2) survivors of childhood sexual abuse at juvenile detention centers operated by governmental entities, who were born after November 15, 1999, have until age 55 to file civil lawsuits.
In addition, on January 29, 2026, the New York City Council enacted Introduction 1297, an amendment to the Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA). Introduction 1297 reopens the GMVA lookback window for 18 months. As a result, survivors with previously time-barred claims for sexual abuse that occurred in New York City and prior to January 9, 2022 can file lawsuits between January 29, 2026 and July 29, 2027. Survivors of sexual abuse that occurred in New York City and on or after January 9, 2022 have seven years to bring their claims.
Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating allegations of sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy members. Our team is dedicated to providing legal support to survivors and holding accountable those who have committed these crimes. We are working tirelessly to ensure that survivors have access to justice and that the trust placed in religious institutions is restored.
Trust Levy Konigsberg's Legal Team for Proven Results in Sexual Abuse and Negligence Cases
Levy Konigsberg LLP, a nationally recognized law firm, has built a legacy over three decades, recovering over $3 billion in sexual abuse compensation for clients. Led by award-winning sexual abuse lawyers, we specialize in representing survivors in sexual abuse across the country, taking on powerful institutions. Our top-rated trial practice handles all types of sexual abuse or negligence cases, showcasing numerous testimonials and successful case results.