Anaheim Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Anaheim Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorney
One of the main places of trust for individuals of faith is in the hands of the clergy. These individuals provide spiritual guidance and safety. However, when a clergy person betrays that trust and sexually abuses a person, this leads to both betrayal and spiritual confusion. When this happens, an Anaheim clergy sexual abuse lawyer at Easton & Easton can help you fight for your rights and hold the responsible parties accountable.
About Easton & Easton
Easton & Easton is a family-run personal injury law firm with a long history of representing clients who have suffered serious injuries or wrongful death in Orange County and throughout Southern California. We frequently litigate cases in the Orange County Superior Court, Newport Beach Justice Complex, and other local courthouses.
Easton & Easton’s lawyers have more than 100 years of combined litigation experience. Our successful track record, personal approach, and ethical reputation have gained the trust of hundreds of injured clients over the years. When religious leaders and institutions fall short of protecting the people in their charge, we represent our clients compassionately, doggedly, and respectfully in pursuit of civil claims for injury, loss, and damages.
Understanding Clergy Sexual Abuse
One in four child sexual abuse victims is abused by a member of a religious organization. Out of shame and fear, only about 20% of victims of church abuse report their mistreatment to authorities. Over 300 priests who served in the Los Angeles archdiocese have been charged with the sexual abuse of minors over the past several decades.
Clergy sexual abuse is a type of sexual abuse that can be committed by a member of the clergy or religious leader against a member of their congregation, a minor, or another person who is under their spiritual care or authority. Clergy sexual abuse is also called clergy abuse, church sexual abuse, and priest sexual abuse, among other terms.
The nature of clergy sexual abuse makes it difficult for survivors to identify or report the misconduct because it often involves severe forms of emotional manipulation and expectations of trust. These abuses can occur at:
- School
- Places of worship, such as a church or synagogue
- Camps or retreats
- Counseling sessions
The majority of clergy sexual abuse victims are children or young adults who trusted their abusers while being taught to accept religious authority. The combination of shame and spiritual confusion makes survivors of abuse remain silent for extended periods that may span many years or decades.
California Clergy Sexual Abuse Laws
California’s civil statutes of limitations have been amended to give survivors of childhood sexual abuse more time to file a claim. In California, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have eight years from the date they discovered the abuse or 44 years from the date of the abuse to file a civil claim under California Code of Civil Procedure section 340.1.
This statute of limitations extends to both the abuser and the religious institution where the abuse took place. Religious institutions, including churches and dioceses, may face civil liability when they knew about or should have known about clergy misconduct but did not take reasonable measures to stop it.
What to Do if You’ve Been Sexually Abused by Clergy
If you or your child has been sexually abused by a priest or other member of the clergy, you have the right to be safe. If you are in immediate danger, please call local law enforcement. You may wish to seek medical attention and counseling to help you recover from physical and psychological injuries.
Save any potential evidence you have, since it could help during an investigation and legal action. This may include saving any communications, records, and taking notes about what happened.
In addition to contacting law enforcement authorities, you have the right to report the matter to the church or other religious institution involved. You should consider talking to an experienced sexual abuse attorney as soon as possible. An Anaheim clergy sexual abuse attorney can advise you of your legal rights, help you protect your privacy, and hold the abuser accountable through a civil claim if appropriate.
Hire a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Individuals who have endured sexual abuse by clergy members face distinct legal and emotional obstacles as they seek justice. Choosing to hire a clergy sexual abuse lawyer provides you with a representative who understands the religious components of your clergy sexual abuse case, while offering both investigation experience and privacy protection while pursuing justice.
FAQs
How Do I Report Clergy Abuse?
Clergy abuse may be reported to local law enforcement, to child protective services if a child is involved, or to a district attorney’s office. A survivor may also report the abuse to the leadership of the religious institution. If so, this should not be done in lieu of reporting to law enforcement.
What Does Grounding Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors Mean?
Grounding involves techniques that help a survivor remain in the present moment during anxiety, flashbacks, or emotional upheaval. Grounding practices can include conscious breathing, sensory awareness, or movement. These techniques are often used in trauma-informed counseling to help a survivor reestablish a sense of safety and control during challenging emotional states.
Can You File a Claim Against a Catholic Priest?
Yes, a Catholic priest can have a claim filed against him in a civil court for committing sexual abuse. In some cases, the church or diocese can also be held liable if it knew or should have known about the abuse and did not take steps to prevent it. Civil claims can seek monetary damages and hold the abuser and the church accountable.
Are Priests Protected by Law?
No, priests are not protected by law. Priests can be prosecuted criminally and civilly for sexual abuse. They are not above the law, and their religious duties do not grant them immunity. Legal issues specific to religious organizations do not exempt them from civil claims or criminal charges for abuse.
Contact Easton & Easton
If you or someone you know was abused by a member of the clergy, you do not have to face the aftermath alone. Justice can be served, and Easton & Easton can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by OC Register Voters as "The Best Law Firm in Orange County” each year since voting began in 2022.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California by the National Trial Lawyers — a membership organization limited to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis and Gabe have each been selected to "Best Lawyers" for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers selects the Top 5% of attorneys based on peer voting and client reviews.
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as the #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement in California in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Travis, Gabe and Brenda have all been selected among Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars in Southern California.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a Top 10 Personal Injury Settlement in California in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian, Matt, and Travis Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in America™ through the results achieved for their clients (an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States).
Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.
We were recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a the #1 Personal Injury Settlement in Los Angeles County in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.
Matt, Travis, Gabe and Brenda have all been selected at some point as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Easton & Easton was honored for securing a $20,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.
Easton & Easton was honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018-2020 (each year the voting took place).
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2016 by TopVerdict.com.
Awards/recognitions noted are from organizations recognized within the legal profession as bona fide.
No purchase was required for selection. Selection methodologies available upon request.
“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
What Our Clients Say
“Client testimonials reflect individual experiences; results vary. No guarantee of outcome.”
Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…
The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…
I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…
Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…
What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…
I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!
-Allee
Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.
I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!
They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.
Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.
They are the BEST!
I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.
I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way
The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!
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