ST. JOHN’S PREPARATORY SCHOOL SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting For Survivors Sexually Abused at St. John’s Preparatory School in Massachusetts

St. John’s Preparatory School sexual abuse lawsuits involve allegations students were allegedly abused by clergy and staff linked to the Massachusetts school.

Levy Konigsberg is investigating claims that students were sexually abused by clergy and school personnel at St. John’s Preparatory School in Massachusetts.

St. John’s Preparatory School is a Catholic college preparatory school in Danvers, Massachusetts, affiliated with the Xaverian Brothers. Allegations tied to the school have involved claims of sexual abuse and misconduct by clergy and staff, including allegations involving individuals later identified as credibly accused of child sexual abuse, as well as reported misconduct involving school personnel and concerns about institutional failures to protect students.

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

History of Sexual Abuse at St. John’s Preparatory School in Massachusetts 

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

• In July 2019, the Xaverian Brothers released a list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse including some individuals who served at St. John’s Preparatory School, namely:
  • Thomas Morrissey
  • William M. Burns
  • Albert F. Kerressey
  • Thomas Harrison
  • Francis E. Dailey
  • Thomas F. Holihan
  • John Augustine
  • Robert Flaherty
  • Francis E. Dolan
  • John J. Sullivan

• In December 2003, Br. George Donnelly, the Director of Student Activities at St. John’s Preparatory School resigned following an allegation of inappropriate sexual conduct made by a former student, which allegedly occurred ten years back. 

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

Massachusetts Sexual Abuse Attorneys

In 2015, Massachusetts lawmakers passed groundbreaking legislation to greatly expand the rights of child sexual abuse survivors. Specifically, these legislative amendments gave survivors, whom research has shown can take years or decades to process their abuse and its resulting impact on their lives, far more time to file civil lawsuits than what was previously provided for under the law.

Claims against abusers

Under current Massachusetts law (Chapter 260 § 4C), survivors of child sexual abuse must file civil claims against their abuser within 35 years of the final act of abuse or within 7 years of discovering that they suffered damages as a result of their abuse, whichever is later.

There are two important facts about the law and its application in child sexual abuse cases:

• The statute of limitations can be “tolled” until child victims turn 18, which means that survivors have 35 years from the date they turn 18 to file civil claims.
• The statute contains a “delayed discovery” provision allowing child victims to file claims within 7 years of discovering that they suffered damages due to their abuse. This means that victims may still be eligible to file civil lawsuits even if it has been more than 35 years since their abuse, provided they had not previously discovered the connection between their abuse and resulting damages, which may include addiction, anxiety, depression, and other emotional and psychological injuries.

Claims against others, including organizations responsible for the abuse

A separate Massachusetts law governs claims against persons or entities other than the abuser, such as the operator of a facility who allowed the abuse to occur. Under this law, survivors of child sexual abuse that occurred after June 2014 may file civil claims against persons or entities other than the abuser within 35 years of the final act of abuse. 

The “delayed discovery” rule allowing survivors to file within 7 years of discovering that they suffered damages due to their abuse applies the same as in claims against abusers.

Massachusetts’ current statute of limitations for child sexual abuse survivors provides far more time for survivors to take legal action than the previous law, but advocates and some lawmakers are still pushing to eliminate the statute of limitations entirely in child sexual abuse cases. There is currently a proposed bill (S.1038) that is making its way through the state Legislature that would do just that.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse at a Massachusetts Catholic school, our dedicated legal team is ready to guide you through the process and fight relentlessly for the justice and compensation you deserve.

Determining the statute of limitations that applies to your sexual abuse case against a Massachusetts school can be challenging, which is why it is best to bring your matter to the attention of an experienced lawyer.

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.