Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Media outlets throughout the Chicago area continue to report the $3.2 million sex abuse settlement against the Catholic church, which was secured by the Chicago personal injury law firms of Abels & Annes, P.C. and Hilfman & Martin, P.C. $300,000 of the settlement is to be placed in escrow for services.

ABC7 News reports convicted pedophile and former Roman Catholic Priest Daniel McCormack sexually abused the boy, who was a poor kid from a single-parent home who was looking to the church for safety and security.

The abuse in this case perpetrated by McCormack occurred when the boy was in grades 5 through 7. Now 18, he hopes to use some of the settlement to go to college.

McCormack pleaded guilty to abusing five children while working as a teacher, coach and priest at St. Agatha Catholic Church and School in Chicago. McCormack pleaded guilty in 2007 to abusing the boy and a number of other victims. He served half of a 5-year prison sentence and remains in a mental health facility under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act.

Attorneys took depositions from a number of senior Archdiocese officials, including priests and seminary leaders. The church agreed to the settlement shortly before the case was scheduled to go to trial. The lawsuit contended that church leaders failed to keep McCormack away from children despite knowing that he was sexually abusing them.

WGNTV reports the church is facing at least two other lawsuits in connection with its failure to stop McCormack from abusing children. Abels & Annes and Hilfman & Martin represent the plaintiffs in the 2 pending lawsuits.

The Chicago Tribune reported the Archdiocese of Chicago released a brief statement:

"The Archdiocese of Chicago does not comment on specific details of settlements in clergy misconduct cases out of respect for the privacy of all involved," the statement said. "Victims-survivors are free to speak about their situations and the Archdiocese respects their right to make public the details of their settlements, if they choose to do so. With this settlement, all five of the claims to which McCormack pled guilty have been resolved."

NBCChicago reports the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said it hopes the settlement will help the victim reach his full potential in adulthood.

"We are grateful that McCormack is not walking the streets where he could access additional children," the group said.

Attorneys from Hilfman and Martin; Abels & Annes personal injury firms win major settlement in case tied to former Rev. Daniel McCormack.

Chicago -- Chicago plaintiff lawyers Hilfman & Martin P.C. and Abels & Annes P. C. have settled a claim against the Archdiocese of Chicago, Cardinal George, and the Catholic Bishop of Chicago involving sexual abuse of a minor boy by former Rev. Daniel McCormack in the amount of $3.2 million dollars, $300,000 of which is to be placed in escrow for services. The identity of the plaintiff and his family are confidential.

The victim sued the Archdiocese of Chicago and Cardinal Francis George in 2007. He alleged that they failed to remove their priest, Rev. Daniel McCormack, from access to children although they had knowledge that McCormack had sexually abused minors. McCormack was arrested in January 2006, charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual assault and subsequently pleaded guilty to those charges in 2007. The plaintiff in this case is one of the victims for which McCormack pled guilty.

The settling victim was sexually abused by McCormack between 5th and 7th grades.

“On behalf of the victim, who was between the ages of 10-12 years old when he was abused, we are pleased to have reached this settlement because it marks one more step toward bringing justice to him and his family,” said William Martin, a partner at Hilfman & Martin, a Chicago-based law firm that has represented other victims in child sex abuse cases involving the Archdiocese of Chicago and other entities.

Hilfman & Martin, P.C. and Abels & Annes, P.C. extensively litigated this case and settled it shortly before trial. They are the only firms in McCormack litigation that took the depositions of many senior Archdiocese officials, vicars, priests, seminary leaders and other key Archdiocese personnel.

“Representing child victims of sexual abuse in cases against religious institutions, school districts, day care centers and other organizations that interface with children implicates complex and sensitive issues and requires a unique approach given the ages of our clients,” said David Abels, a partner at Abels & Annes, a Chicago-based personal injury law firm. “ We are proud to work every day on their behalves to represent their interests and maximize rewards that, we feel, are deserved.”

Both firms have carved out a niche in Chicago, taking on challenging cases for the victims of sexual abuse. “Our understanding of the lifelong devastating injury that abusers cause their victims is what drives and motivates us,” said Louis Hilfman, a partner at Hilfman & Martin P.C.

The firms have clients who are plaintiffs in two pending civil cases against the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Cardinal. These cases are also related to those defendants’ failures to timely remove McCormack from access to children and to McCormack’s activities while an Archdiocese priest.

Amid the continued fallout at Penn State University over the sexual abuse of minors scandal that has recently come to light, football coach Joe Paterno has been dismissed, according to the Washington Post and many other media outlets. The decision was made last night by the school's board of trustees and the move was made public at a news conference and a Happy Valley area hotel.

The Board of Trustees also decided to dismiss the university president as well. So far four school administrators have been fired due to the scandal which started when Jerry Sandusky was recently arrested on allegations of sexually abusing at least eight boys between 1994 and 2009. Sandusky was Penn State footfall's defensive coordinator for many years under Joe Paterno, until he unexpectedly retired in 1999 at age 55.

After the announcement was made, large groups of students took to the streets of campus, tearing down lampposts and knocking over a news van. Another more subdued crowd gathered in front of the coach's house just off of campus.

Paterno had been head coach at Penn State since 1966 and has won an NCAA record 409 games, including two national titles.

While the horrific events that went on at the University involving sexual abuse are still unclear and many of the reports differ, Chicago sex abuse attorneys at our firm hope the story shines a spotlight on the issue and the tragic consequences for the victims.

According to the American Academy of Children & Adolescent Psychiatry, sex abuse of a child has been reported up to 80,000 times per year, however the number of unreported abuse cases is far greater. This is often due to a child being afraid to report what has occurred.

After being abused, a minor can develop many different problems and negative behaviors. Victims often develop low self-esteem, become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can also become suicidal. Later in life abused children are much more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and experience many different issues regarding their sexuality.

The Penn State scandal also highlights the need to come forward and report suspected child sex abuse to the proper authorities. If you see something, say something. Often, the person reporting the abuse will be taking a great step forward in preventing other children from suffering the same consequences. Most often an abuser will not have one victim, but will have many victims over many years.

Illinois priest abuse lawyers at our firm often hear from victims that they feel like their childhoods were taken away from them. Our office is currently working on several sex abuse cases, most of them against the Chicago Archdiocese.

Continue reading "Joe Paterno fired due to Penn State child sex abuse scandal" »

Chicago priest abuse attorneys are taking note that a grand jury in Missouri has indicted Kansas City Bishop Robert Finn and the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph for not taking steps to notify authorities about child pornography discovered on a priest's computer. The Bishop and the diocese pled not guilty to the charge of failing to report suspected child abuse, a misdemeanor, according to USA Today.

This criminal charge makes Finn the highest ranking Catholic official in the United States to be charged with trying to cover-up possible sex abuse of minors by a priest. Under Missouri law, church officials are required to report any form of suspected child abuse.

The indictments come from a grand jury convened in Jackson County after the U.S. Department of Justice charged Rev. Sean Ratigan earlier this year with child pornography possession. The prosecutor handling the case has stated that the fact that the charge is a misdemeanor should not lessen the importance of this case. The Bishop could face up to a year in prison and a $1000 fine. The highest fine for a corporation is $5000.

A spokesperson from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has stated that this is the first time they can recall a Bishop being indicted on this type of charge. The charge also represents a major setback for the Vatican in their effort to try to put sex abuse scandals behind them, according to the Washington Post.

According to the indictment issued on October 6, the Bishop and diocese had reasonable cause to believe that the Rev. sexually abused children.

The Post is also reporting that by 12/16/2010 school officials have notified supervisors of concerns about the Priest's actions with children, and church officials located hundreds of photos of children, some sexual in nature, on his computer. Finn has reportedly admitted that he was told of the inappropriate photos last year.

But despite this knowledge, the church did not report to local authorities until May 2011, according to prosecutors. That same month the priest was charged with possession of child porn.

It has not reported if Ratigan continued to have ongoing contact with children during the period of time where the Bishop and diocese failed to report the suspected sexual abuse to local police.

CBS News is reporting that an internal memo was written in May of 2010 stating that several people had complained about Rev. Ratigan taking pictures of children, allowing them to sit on his lap and reach into his pocket for candy. This memo was reportedly given to a Monsignor, who also served as the diocese's vicar general. The Monsignor then talked to Ratigan about setting appropriate boundaries with children, and then allegedly gave the Bishop a summary of the memo and his meeting with the priest.

CBS goes on to report that months later a computer technician working on the priest's laptop found the inappropriate images of children, most of them fully clothed but focusing on the crotch area. There was also a set of photos of a 2 to 3-year-old girl with her genitals exposed.

The computer was turned over to the diocese, and church officials allegedly failed to report the collection of photos to the police, and the laptop was actually later returned to a relative of the priest.

Continue reading "Kansas City Bishop Indicted In Child Pornography, Sex Abuse Case" »

Chicago sex abuse attorneys at our firm are taking note that the nation’s largest pediatricians’ group has released their first policy on protecting children from sexual abuse by healthcare professionals in response to a disturbing case in Delaware where a pediatrician filmed himself molesting his young patients.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a number of guidelines outlining how both parents and professionals should conduct themselves in identifying and protecting against sexual abuse, the Associated Press reported. The academy’s report states that literature regarding the sexual abuse of pediatric patients by providers is sparse, and studies involving abuse between doctors and adult patients are used to provide context on the issue.

The policy says that all medical and health care staff involved in the care of children should be screened for past allegations of abuse, including checking with previous employers and consulting criminal and child abuse registry background checks. These measures cannot be relied on, however, as an estimated less than 1% of child molesters have criminal records. Institutions need to have procedures in place for the reporting, managing, and investigating of potential abuses so legitimate concerns are not overlooked.

The policy also stresses that healthcare institutions need to make it known that the reporting of potential abuses or misconduct is absolutely mandatory, even if the person is not sure such conduct is taking place. It says only two-thirds of cases where a colleague suspect another colleague gets reported, and staff should be made aware that such under-reporting will not be condoned.

Professionals also need to inform parents on their right to chaperone examinations of their young children, and be trained on how to conduct themselves while performing particularly sensitive examinations. They also must explain to parents exactly what they are doing and the reason it is necessary.

The policy warns that incidents of past sexual abuse can lead to an individual’s emotional, behavioral, cognitive, social, and general health impairment. Sexual abuse correlates with an increased frequency of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, poor self-esteem, eating disorders, delinquency, and suicidal tendencies. If parents are aware of any abuse, or suspect potential abuse, they should seek the proper authority immediately. This includes the management of the particular institution, local authorities, or state authorities, depending on how sure the parent is of the misconduct, and how serious the misconduct is.

According to the Associated Press, the former pediatrician who necessitated these policy guidelines was convicted last June on 14 counts of first-degree rape and five counts each of second-degree assault and sexual exploitation of a child. The prosecution alleged that the man recorded himself committing the sex crimes against more than 80 victims, most of who were female toddlers. The policy itself referenced the matter, stating that it served as a reminder that some people in the pediatric profession use their position of authority and trust to take advantage of young children.

After alerting the appropriate authorities and providing for the health and safety of their child, parents of abused children can seek advice from an Illinois personal injury attorney to see what legal remedies they have. Traumatic experiences such as this can stick with a child for the rest of their lives, and making sure they have the means to seek the professional help they require to work through their issues can make a positive difference.

Continue reading "New policy guidelines aim to protect children from sexual abuse by doctors in Illinois, and elsewhere" »

A Chicago-area Baptist minister has been convicted in a child sexual abuse case in Lake County, Illinois. He told the judge that God would punish those who bore “false witness” against him in a trial that resulted in him being sentenced to 18 years for aggravated criminal sexual abuse and predatory criminal sexual assault against an 11 year-old girl, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The minister had preached at Baptist churches in North Chicago and Zion. The victim testified that the minister had told her that whatever they did would stay between them and she did not come forward until 11 months later because she was scared and embarrassed. After the girl’s mother first confronted the minister about the assault, he swore on the bible that he didn't abuse her.

The minister had signed a confession to the sexual assault at the Waukegan Police Department, but his defense attorney challenged the confession as the minister maintained his innocence. He never took the stand in his own defense, stating that he would rely on his faith to clear his name.

“I want this court to know when I am out, I will go back to trying to help people turn their life around,” the minister said before sentencing. “Whatever time is given to me, I will walk it upstandingly. I will walk it as God would have me.” He also prayed for mercy before the sentencing.

The assistant state's attorney prosecuting the case noted that the defendant asked for mercy at at the time of sentencing, but at the same time he had taken no responsibility for his actions.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the minister had a criminal history from the late 60s and early 70s for charges related to being in possession of stolen checks. The charges were out of the State of California where he served 18 months.

The minister’s attorney plans to appeal the conviction, stating that since the time of his arrest he has been helping others and has been a good influence on other jail inmates in Lake County.

Sexual abuse of minors by religious figures is an all too common news story in Chicago. According to one study, the Tribune reports that more than half of Chicago’s Roman Catholic Parishes have been served by a priest credibly accused of sexually abusing a child. This abuse is not limited to any one denomination, however, and instances of abuse have spread across many faiths.

Illinois sex abuse lawyers at office currently represents several young men who were abused by a Catholic priest when they were minors.

Unfortunately, many of the abused never come forward and do not get the psychological help they need to properly deal with the traumatic event. Often victims suffer from depression, abuse drugs and alcohol, and they are more likely to attempt suicide. Nationally, almost half of all sex abuse victims are under the age of 18, and over 90% of minor victims know their abuser.

Continue reading "Chicago-area Baptist minister sentenced to 18 years for sexual assault on a minor" »

A 34-year-old Naperville woman has been charged with sexually abusing four students while she was employed as a teacher at a Christian school on the Northwest Side, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and several other media outlets. She has been charged with four counts of criminal sexual assault.

A Cook County Judge set bail on Tuesday at $1.5 million. The defendant is to appear in court next on June 27.

The teacher's brother, age 27, who was also employed at the school has been charged with one count of criminal sexual abuse.

The defendant teacher was employed as a teacher at Dayspring Christian Academy, which is located in the 5100 block of W. Fullerton Ave. She was employed there up until March of 2011, according to a spokesperson for the Cook County State's Attorney's office. It is being alleged that she sexually assaulted three girls and a boy several years ago. The four children were all students and members of a church next door called the Daysping Church.

Chicago police officials are stating that the sexual abuse began in the late 1990s but was not reported until April, 2011. It is being alleged that the former teacher gave the minors alcohol and performed sexual acts on them in her home, in the children's homes and in her car.

It Is being alleged that she had sexual intercourse with the male victim for about a year when he was between the ages of 15 and 16. At one point she babysat for him and his sister when their parents were out of town.

The abuse of one of the female victims started in 1998 when the girl was 15 years old. The defendant had taught her in the seventh and eighth grade. The abusive relationship lasted until 2001.

In 2003, when the teacher was age 26, she allegedly abused another 15-year-old girl while her parents were away. That sexually abusive relationship lasted until 2006.

She next allegedly abused a 14-year-old girl who was a church member and the teacher's student in the sixth and eighth grades. The abuse lasted until March, 2007 when the victim's family moved away.

The Academy where teacher was employed enrolls students from pre-K to 12th grade. School officials have made no comments regarding the allegations.

NBC news is reporting that a third person was questioned by police, but later released with no charges filed.

The Chicago Tribune is stating that the ages of victims were between 13 and 17. Further, they report that the defendant's brother allegedly abused a student who is now age 23.

The teacher supposedly has no past criminal history. The defendant's husband stated outside of court that his wife has had some psychological problems in the past, but recently started treating with a therapist.

The consequences of sexual abuse to a child can be devastating and last long into adulthood. There can be both emotional and psychological issues, and the abuse can cause negative behavioral changes at home and at school. Victims are more likely to suffer from depression, think about suicide, and become an alcohol and drug abuser. According to the federal government, over 40% of sex abuse victims are under the age of 18 and over 90% of child victims know the abuser.

Lawyers at our firm have become very familiar with the effects of sex abuse, as we currently represent several victims in lawsuits against the Chicago Archdiocese. Our firm also represents a student that was sexually abused by a suburban school bus driver, and a downstate teenager that was abused by a church employee.

An information technology worker used to be employed at Lockport Township High School District 205 was arrested on Thursday morning for his alleged sexual abuse of a student in 2009, according to the Chicago Tribune. The defendant, a 39-year-old Darien resident, was charged yesterday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He has since been released on bail.

The charge is a class 2 felony that carries a 3 to 7 year prison sentence if convicted. A spokesperson for the Lockport Police Department is stating the alleged victim was a 17 year old minor at the time of abuse and is a Lockport resident.

The charges reportedly alleged that defendant abused his position of trust, authority or supervision with a minor in April, 2009 while he was employed as a senior network administrator for the school district. Police only learned of the alleged sexual abuse earlier this month after the victim told the family friend about what happened.

It has not been reported if an Illinois sex abuse attorney is involved in the case or if a civil lawsuit has been filed. Why the defendant is no longer employed with the school district was also not reported.

Read the story as reported by the Chicago Breaking News Center here.

An Illinois teacher in the northern suburbs has been charged with sexually abusing 4 children under the age of 13, according to Fox news. The defendant was arrested at his home in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Saturday by Round Lake Beach Police on a warrant charging him with the sexual abuse of minors.

The defendant has been employed as a teacher for six years and was working as a third-grade teacher at Raymond Ellis Elementary School in Round Lake Beach. School and police officials would not state where the alleged abuse took place.

School District 116 made telephone calls alerting parents of the charges and also sent letters home with students. The teacher is expected to wave extradition and appear in Lake County bond court this Friday.

It has not been reported if a civil lawsuit has been filed or if a Chicago area sexual abuse attorney is involved in the case.

UPDATED STORY, 4/8/2011: CBS news is reporting that a Lake County judge set bond for the defendant at $250,000 after prosecutors informed the court that there could be additional victims. The teacher is accused of inappropriately touching four girls, ages 9 and 10, between August 18, 2010 and March 23, 2011. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison for each count filed against him.

Chicago sexual abuse attorneys continue to follow the recent lawsuits being filed on the East Coast. CNN is reporting that a third lawsuit has been filed this month against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and other archdiocese officials.

There is been several new lawsuits since February when a grand jury report was released and charges were brought soon after against 4 priests and a schoolteacher. Since then the alleged victims of sex abuse have filed the lawsuits because the report claims the archdiocese withheld the identity of known predator priests.

In a lawsuit filed last Wednesday, allegations claim that Rev. John Kline, who was assigned to St. Francis Xavier Parish and who was a teacher at a Roman Catholic high school, sexually abused the plaintiff sometime between 1968 and 1969 while on a family vacation. The victim, who is now 49 years old, is saying he repressed the memories of the sexual contact until around three years ago. The alleged abuser retired from church duties in 1981 has since passed away, according to the plaintiff's attorney, Marci Hamilton.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has not commented on the new lawsuit.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Canadian Press.

Church sex abuse lawyers in Delaware have obtained a $30 million verdict for a victim after a jury found that St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic parish was grossly negligent in failing to properly supervise former priest Francis Deluca, according to delawareonline.com. The victim, when a teenager in the 1960s, was repeatedly abused by the priest.

The parish is responsible for 3 million of the $30 million in damages awarded to the plaintiff, but they could owe more money soon. The jury has not yet ruled on potential punitive damages in case. The presiding judge has ordered the jury to return to court next week to hear further testimony before determining a possible punitive damage award. Often punitive damages are worth much more than the initial compensatory verdict.

On the witness stand, the 58-year-old victim reportedly told the jury in this case was not about money and just wanted to get the truth out and to be compensated for losing his childhood.

Note: Illinois sex abuse lawyers at our firm currently have several cases pending against the Chicago Archdiocese, one of which is expected to go to trial in 2011.

Click here to read the story as reported by the New York Times.

A Chicago church sexual abuse attorney has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a woman against the Chicago Archdiocese stemming from an alleged intimate relationship that involved a priest in 2008, according to WGN news. The plaintiff is claiming that the priest was her hospice grief counselor when her mother was dying and that he seduced her during a vulnerable period of time in her life.

The woman, who was married at the time, states that the affair began shortly after her terminally ill mother was admitted to the Rainbow Hospice in November of 2008. The sexual relationship continued for several months after the death of the woman's mother.

The lawsuit was filed recently in the Circuit Court of Cook County and alleges that the priest manipulated and sexually exploited her during a very vulnerable time in her life. The plaintiff is not directly named in the lawsuit (as her attorneys are likely protecting her confidentiality. When our law firm files a sex abuse lawsuit, we name the plaintiff as John Doe or Jane Doe).

It is further alleged that the plaintiff's husband notified the archdiocese of the relationship in December, 2008, and church officials took no action. A spokesperson for the archdiocese has confirmed the priest's employment but declined further comment. Rainbow Hospice of Chicago also confirmed that the priest was employed there and that the hospice discharged him after the sexual allegations were made.

The Illinois sex abuse lawyer that filed the suit was not named in the news story.

A new study that is been released by several victims groups is reporting that 60 percent of Chicago Roman Catholic parishes have had a priest at some point that was accused of sexually abusing a minor, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. The study was released by such groups as Voice of the Faithful, African-American Advocates for Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse and the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

Barbara Blaine, who is the founder and president of SNAP, is encouraging victims to speak up, and is asking victims to come forward and get help, contact police and expose predators, and to protect children and start the healing process.

The groups' study found sex abuse accusations in the Chicago area against 97 priests from the years 1917 through 2009. 65 of the allegations have been reportedly confirmed by the Archdiocese of Chicago, while 32 other accusations were found in the news and in lawsuits.

The new report claims the highest concentration of Chicago priest sex abuse allegations come from the following neighborhoods: Bridgeport, West Town, Lincoln Park and Garfield Ridge. Some Chicago churches had more than one priest accused, such as St. Christina Parish, St. Aloysius Church, and St. Leonard Parish in Berwyn.

The press release issued by SNAP contained some disturbing allegations, such as 256 of the Chicago Archdiocese's approximately 400 parishes have had a priest accused of sexually abusing a minor, 30 parishes have had two or more such priests, and finally that a disproportionate number of these parishes were located in low income neighborhoods.

Illinois sexual abuse lawyers from our firm are currently working on several cases against the Chicago Archdiocese, all stemming from claims involving Father Daniel McCormack. McCormack was working out of St. Agatha's Parish, which is located in a low income neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago.

The SNAP the press release accuses officials from the Chicago Archdiocese as being "less than forthcoming" in regards to priests that abused children. It goes on to state that for years lawyers representing African-American victims have argued that the archdiocese"dumps" a disproportionate amount of predators into African-American communities.

CNN has announced that they will be airing a one-hour special titled " What the Pope Knew" on September 25 and September 26 at 7 PM and 10 PM central standard time. It is being indicated that the story will focus on how Ratzinger used to be in charge of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (CDF). The CDF was often in charge of investigating alleged sexual abuse of minors by priests. The story will look at how the Pope handled several sex abuse investigations.

One of the stories is about Terry Kohut, an alleged victim of Wisconsin priest sex abuse. When Kohut was a teenager, he was sexually abused by a headmaster/priest at the St. John's School for the Deaf in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The abuse allegedly went on for years. He was not alone, and from 1950 to 1974 Father Lawrence C Murphy allegedly sexually abused and raped as many as 200 deaf children, this according to church and court documents. Kohut has now filed a sex abuse lawsuit directly against the Vatican and actually naming the Pope as a defendant.

The CNN story will go on to talk about how the abuse of father Murphy was brought to the attention of Ratzinger and the CDF years ago, but that a church trial against Murphy was stopped and he was allowed to remain at his position of priest. The Kohut lawsuit alleges that the Vatican's "policy of secrecy" in abuse cases helped to hide priest sex abuse of children, which in turn helped father Murphy continue abusing children.

Kohut is simply listed as John Doe 16 on the lawsuit that was filed on behalf of dozens of victims. When Chicago priest sex abuse attorneys file lawsuits against the Archdiocese, we typically use a name like John Doe or Jane Doe to protect the identity of the victims that we represent.

If you are a victim of priest sex abuse in the State of Illinois, please contact our office if you would like a free and confidential consultation. Call 312-924-7575 or contact Abels & Annes online.

Abogados de abuso sexual en Abels & Annes, P.C. en colaboración con Hilfman & Martin, se están preparando para presenter una tercera demanda contra la Arquidiócesis de Chicago con respecto a el ex sacerdote Daniel McCormack. El caso de abuso será presentada ante la Corte de Circuito del Condado de Cook en la próxima semana. La Arquidiócesis de Chicago, el Obispo católico de Chicago y el cardinal Francis George serán nombrados los acusados.

La demanda sera presentada a nombre de John M. Doe para protejerla identidad de la victima. El demandante alega que mientras estuvo en y alrededor de la parroquia de St. Agatha y la rectoria de St. Agatha en Chicago de aproximadamente octavo-grado (2002-2003) por su menor o año mayor en colegio secundario (2005-2007), el estuvo tocado de manera impropia y sexualmente, frotado y abusado por McCormack en múltiples ocasiones.

Se alega que funcionarios de la iglesia fallaron de quitar a McCormack de sus deberes como sacerdote después de ganar información que tuvo una historia de reclamos contra él para el abuso sexual desde su tiempo en el seminario.

También indicará que la Arquidiócesis falló de reportar el comportamiento del sacerdote a la policía o advertir el público, pero en su lugar lo ordenó como un sacerdote y los promovió por el sistema hasta que finalmente fue nombrado Pastor de St. Agatha en 2000. Mientras en la parroquia, él fue tanto un maestro como entrenador de básquetbol.

Se alega que durante su tiempo en la iglesia, McCormack abusó sexualmente de niños y funcionarios de la iglesia no investigaron apropiadamente alegaciones acerca del sacerdote. Ellos no informaron padres ni a policía y en su lugar ellos continuaron permitir que trabaje con muchachos jóvenes. Aún después de que fue detenido y una junta de revisión recomendó su expulsión en octubre de 2005, él no fue retirado hasta enero de 2006 cuando fue tomado en la custodia de policía por segunda vez.

McCormack actualmente esta encarcelado. En 2007 se declaró culpable de abusar sexualmente a cinco niños y él fue sentenciado a cinco años en el Departamento de Correcciones de Illinois.

Sexual abuse lawyers at Abels & Annes, working with co-counsel Hilfman & Martin, are preparing to file a third lawsuit against the Chicago Archdiocese in regards to former priest Daniel McCormack. The abuse case will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County within the next week. The Archdiocese of Chicago, the Catholic Bishop of Chicago and Cardinal Francis George will be named as defendants.

The lawsuit will be filed on behalf of John M. Doe to protect the victim's identity. The plaintiff will allege that while he was in and around St. Agatha's parish and St. Agatha's rectory in Chicago from approximately eighth-grade (2002-2003) through his junior or senior year in high school (2005-2007), he was inappropriately and sexually touched, rubbed and abused by McCormack on multiple occasions.

It will allege that church officials failed to remove McCormack of his duties as priest after gaining information that he had a history of complaints against him for sexual abuse all the way back to his time in seminary.

It will also state that the archdiocese failed to report the priest's behavior to the police or warn the public, but instead ordained him as a priest and promoted them through the system until he was finally named Pastor of St. Agatha's in 2000. While at the parish, he was both a teacher and basketball coach.

It is alleged that during his time at the church, McCormack sexually abused children and church officials did not properly investigate allegations about the priest. They did not inform parents or police and instead they continued to let him work with young boys. Even after he was arrested and a review board recommended his removal in October of 2005, he was not removed until January 2006 when he was taken into police custody for the second time.

McCormack is currently incarcerated. In 2007 he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing five boys and he was sentenced to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

A former Roman Catholic Priest has received a four-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting boy from St. Charles when the child was 12 to 13 years old, according to the Daily Herald. Alejandro Flores, age 37, of Shorewood, Illinois pleaded guilty on Wednesday to Class I felony criminal sexual abuse.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office alleged that defendant sexually abused the boy that he met while working at St. Mary's Church, which is located in West Chicago. The child was reportedly abused on multiple occasions in the priest's car and in the boy's home. It was also alleged that the priest attempted to have sexual relations with the victim's older brother.

Due to this conviction, the former priest must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and he will likely face deportation to his home country of Bolivia when he is released from prison. He will serve at least 85% of the sentence, which comes out to about three years and five months.

In January, 2010, the boy's mother reported the abuse to the Joliet Archdiocese, NBC News reported. Later that month he fell from a church balcony in what is been reported as an attempted suicide. He was hospitalized at that time, but not seriously injured, and he was arrested after being released from the hospital. At that time he was serving as a priest at Holy Family Church in Shorewood, Illinois.

It is not been reported if the family of the minor has retained Chicago-area sex abuse attorney or if a civil lawsuit has been filed.

The effects of sexual abuse to a minor can be very damaging and long-lasting. Sex abuse victims are more likely to suffer from depression, and more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs as adults. Click here to read more about sex abuse cases.

A driver charged with sexual assault on a Chicago school bus had been the subject of a previous allegation made by a teenage girl, the Breaking News Center reported.

The 27-year-old driver remains in Cook County Jail on $750,000 bond after being charged in January with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault. He also faces charges of kidnapping and unlawful restraint.

In March 2009, a 17-year-old special education student said the defendant took her to a secluded area and sexually assaulted her. Two months later, he reportedly threatened to kill her for reporting him to police. At that time, he was reportedly fired but nevertheless was able to renew his permit to drive a school bus. On Jan. 8, he allegedly attempted to assault another school girl while driving a bus.

The mothers of the teenage girls are livid that the man was permitted near students even as the first allegations were being investigated. The Chicago school system contracts with about 20 busing companies, which employ hundreds of drivers to run more than 2,000 daily routes. These companies are largely charged with policing themselves and numerous complaints of sexual assaults on Chicago school buses have surfaced in the past several years.

Earlier this year, Chicago sex abuse lawyers at Abels & Annes filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against First Student Bus Company. That lawsuit alleges a 67-year-old bus driver sexually assaulted a female student despite having previously been dismissed as a bus driver from another company after female students complained of sexual harassment.

In this case, the Jewel's Bus Co. driver has denied the allegations against him. The defendant is related to the bus company's president, the News Center reported. A spokeswoman for the Chicago Public Schools says the company has been awarded more than $40 million in contracts in the past five years. Those contracts are now reportedly under review.

A spokeswoman for the school district said audits of bus drivers are conducted twice a year, but with more than 1,500 buses and nearly 2,000 drivers, "resources are extremely limited."

The sex abuse victim in the Jewel's case is being represented by Nilson, Stookal, Gleason & Caputo of Chicago and the bus company is represented by John J. Meehan, P.C., also of Chicago, in Cook County Case Number 2010-L-008665.

The Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, working as co-counsel with the law firm of Hilfman & Martin, have filed a church sex abuse lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Catholic Bishop of Chicago and Cardinal Francis George.

The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of James C. Doe to protect the identity of the victim, accuses Catholic officials of failing to relieve Father Daniel McCormack of his official duties despite having information that McCormack had a history of abuse complaints dating back to his time in the seminary. The abuse in this case is alleged to have occurred while the boy was a middle-school student from 1999 to 2002 and continued through 2006 while the boy was in high school.

McCormack pleaded guilty in 2007 to charges that he abused five boys. He was sentenced to five years in prison and had been scheduled for release but officials have filed a lawsuit to keep him confined as a sexually violent person, ABC7 reported.

The lawsuit also accuses the Archdiocese, the Cardinal and the Catholic Bishop of failing to report McCormack's behavior to the police or to warn the public. And of destroying notes and records of McCormack's abuse of minors and fellow seminarians.

Instead, officials allowed him to be ordained as a priest and promoted through the system until he was named pastor of St. Agatha's Parish in 2000. The parish included a daycare program and a school campus that is part of Our Lady of the West Side. While at the parish, he was also a teacher and boy's basketball coach.

During his time at the church, McCormack sexually abused boys; church leaders failed to properly investigate complaints about the priest's behavior and did not inform authorities or parents of the allegations, according to the lawsuit. Church leaders also failed to notify school administrators and permitted McCormack to continue working with young boys.

Despite being arrested in 2005, Church leaders did not remove him from his position as pastor at St. Agatha's. A review board recommended to the Cardinal that McCormack be removed in mid October 2005, which the Cardinal rejected. He was finally removed in January 2006 when he was arrested a second time.

The lawsuit accuses the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Catholic Bishop of Chicago and Cardinal Francis George of 28 instances of breach of duty and failure to provide reasonable care.

Two priests in Joliet, Illinois have been removed for allegedly sexually abusing a student in the 1970s, according to the Herald-News. The abuse allegedly occurred at different times while the victim was a student at Providence Catholic in New Lenox and Joliet Catholic High School, which is now called Joliet Catholic Academy. The victim is now in his 40s and resides in Florida. The names of the victim or the priests have not been made public.

On Friday a news conference was held by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in Joliet. The investigation was made public a that time and Snap demanded more action be taken regarding the priests.

After the news conference, the Joliet diocese announced that the priests had been removed from the ministry.

SNAP is alleging that the abuse took place with one of the priests during a span of several years in many hotels, a rectory, and out of state. The abuse alleged against the other priest was for a single incident.

The victim has retained a lawyer, however a lawsuit has not been filed.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Southtown Star.

An Illinois man is suing Pope Benedict XVI and senior Vatican officials, claiming they failed to protect him from sexual assault as a teenager from a Wisconsin priest they knew was a possible child molester, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The case is the latest in a long string of claims against the Catholic Church in the Chicago area and across the nation. As we reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog last summer, the church paid $3.9 million to settle with six victims who reported sexual abuse by priests.

Identified in court papers as John Doe 16, the man said he was repeatedly molested by a priest while a student at St. John's School for the deaf in the Milwaukee area.

The lawsuit claims the abuse occurred over a number of years and included incidents in which the priest solicited sex in the confessional. The priest taught at the school from 1950 until 1974. He died in 1998 and stands accused of sexually abusing some 200 boys at the school.

The charges against the priest recently drew renewed scrutiny after documents suggested that a Vatican office headed by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger failed to aggressively discipline Murphy. Ratzinger is now the Pope.

John Doe 16 reported that he wrote two letters to the Vatican asking for help. Court documents suggest Vatican officials failed to discipline Murphy because he was a successful fundraiser.

A Vatican spokesman said previously that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was not informed of the Murphy case until 20 years after the diocese knew of the allegations. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is the office charged with investigating sex crimes by members of the clergy.

The Chicago Personal Injury Law Firm of Abels & Annes has filed a civil lawsuit against a 67-year-old Gompers Junior High School bus driver and First Student Bus Company, in connection with the December sexual assault of a female student.

CBS2 reported Wednesday that the driver was working at First Student despite being dismissed from his job as a Joliet Township bus driver. A police reported from that 2004 incident cites "complaints by student females for sexual harassment."

The 67-year-old bus driver was charged in December with battery of a 14-year-old girl after being accused of offering the girl candy, touch her chest and buttocks and giving her $3 not to tell.

Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Dave Abels and his partner Gary Annes filed a civil lawsuit against the driver and First Student Bus Company.

"I think that any parent would be shocked, horrified to hear that First Student is allowing people to, with these types of backgrounds, to drive their children," said Annes. Another police report says the defendant offered a girl candy, adusted his miror to stare at her and repeatedly asked for hugs.

"Someone dropped the ball here," Abels said.

Four other First Student drivers were in trouble with the law last year: One was arrested for exposing himself to a female student; one was caught with child pornography; and another driver was shot and killed by police after a high-speed chase in Riverdale.

The fourth driver was arrested for child endangerment and DUI after losing control of his bus on the Edens Expressway. That driver had been hired despite being fired from a previous job for driving erratically and failing a drug test, according to CBS2.

"I think private citizens have to stand up and say, 'Enough is enough. We're not going to allow our children to be subjected to this sort of danger,'" Annes said.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Firm of Abels & Annes appear on CBS News for filing a sexual abuse lawsuit against Illinois school bus company" »

A Near West Side school bus driver is charged with the sexual assault of a high school girl who was the last person on his bus one day last spring, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The 26-year-old West Madison Street defendant was ordered held on $50,000 bail in the Chicago sexual assault case for allegedly attacking a 17-year-old girl on March 24.

The paper reported he was already free on $50,000 for a related case in which he allegedly tried to intimidate the victim in the attack.

The defendant works for Jewel's Bus. Co. and appeared in court wearing his blue company jacket with his name over the right side of the chest, according to the News Center. As reported on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog in September, a personal injury lawsuit and criminal charges were filed against another Jewel's Bus Co. driver in September in connection with the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a boy on his bus.

In this case, the girl was a student at a private South Side alternative school and was being driven home. The defendant is accused of pulling over and taking the girl to the back of the bus, where he fondled her and ordered her to perform sex acts on him. The girl was then driven home and immediately reported the assault. The incident occurred in the 8200 block of South Luella Avenue, according to police.

Since then, prosecutors allege the defendant has gone to the victim's home on three occasions, where he tried to intimidate her. In the most recent incident, authorities allege the defendant restrained the girl and threatened to beat her up.

He is slated to appear in court on Feb. 2, where he will appear on the criminal sexual assault charge.

A Chicago personal injury attorney has been filed a sex abuse lawsuit involving a child being kidnapped by a bus driver.

The suit, which was filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Thursday, alleges the boy was sexually assaulted while restrained on the bus by the driver. The family is seeking damages from the bus driver, the busing company and the Chicago Public School system, according the the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The bus driver was charged with kidnapping the boy from Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood on the South Side, according to a report last week in the Chicago Tribune.

Police reported that the 67-year-old Jewels Bus Company driver was arrested and charged following the Tuesday Sept. 15 incident. Authorities reported that the boy was supposed to be dropped off Tuesday morning at the Murray Language Academy in Hyde Park, but the driver detained him on the bus for several hours.

The boy was drooped off at his house about 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman.

Based on a statement the boy provided to investigators, he was taken by police for an examination by doctors at University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, according to the Sun-Times.

Chicago police and Chicago Public School officials had been investigating alleged "inappropriate behavior" by the driver, according to the Sun-Times.

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Rahsaan A. Gordon of Chicago.

In Chicago, Illinois two women have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Archdiocese of Chicago and a retired priest for sexual abuse that allegedly occurred over forty years ago, according to chicagobreakingnews.com. The case has been pending in mediation and their lawyer filed the lawsuit due to the fact that one of the victims is dying of cancer. The lawyer and victim advocates are calling for an expedited settlement.

The victims' lawyer, who is based out of Seattle, is stating that the Church has refused to settle. Yesterday he held a news conference across the street from Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.

The priest named as a defendant, Anthony Vader, was removed from his public duties in 2003 when the Church acknowledged his misconduct. The lawsuit alleges that one woman was molested from age 9 until age 14. The other claims abuse when she was under 13, and again when she was 17. The suit also alleges the archdiocese has treated African American victims differently than other races. The alleged abuse took place in the mid to late 1960s.

Click here to read the entire story.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago has reportedly agreed to pay $12,675,000 to settle 16 sexual abuse claims for the conduct of 11 different priests, according to the Chicago Tribune and several other news sources. The settlements include two victims of Father Daniel McCormack, a former priest who is currently incarcerated for abusing five boys. McCormack plead guilty last year and he is serving a 5 year prison sentence.

Four out of five of McCormack's known victims have now settled with the Archdiocese of Chicago. Abels & Annes, P.C. represents the final known McCormack victim, acting as co-counsel with the firm of Hilfman, Martin & Barr P.C. in a lawsuit against the Archdiosese of Chicago. The case is pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Case No. 07 L 001504.

Former priests involved in today's settlement have been identified as McCormack, Joseph Bennett, Norbert Maday, Robert Mayer, James Hagan, Robert Craig, Robert Becker, Thomas Kelly, James Steel, Joseph Owens and Kenneth Ruge. The cases involve abuse from as far back as the 1960s and as recent as 2006. All the priests have been removed from their church positions.

David Abels & Associates, P.C. is currently acting as co-counsel with the firm of Hilfman, Martin & Barr P.C. in a lawsuit against the Archdiosese of Chicago relating to the sexual misconduct of Father Daniel McCormack. Last week the Court heard the Plaintiff's Motion To File an Amended Complaint Seeking Punitive Damages against the defendants. This motion was argued by Bill Martin. The Honorable Jeffrey Lawrence denied the motion, but Judge Lawrence said that he would be willing to hear the motion again after the parties complete some discovery.

The Court focused on the information contained in the report of the Archdiocese's consultant, Defenbaugh, and specifically commented on 1999 reports from Sister Mary Therese Cusack to the Archdiocese relating to improper conduct by McCormack. The court indicated that the allegations in the plaintiff's motion may be sufficient to allow the plaintiff to pursue punitive damages, but that these allegations required additional legal evidence in the form of depositions or affidavits. Plaintiff's counsel intends to take the depositions of Archdiocesan personnel and to resubmit this motion to the court.

Daniel McCormack has plead guilty in criminal court to abusing five boys. He is serving a five year prison sentence.

Continue reading "In Dan McCormack Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Archdiosese, Judge Denies Punitive Damages Motion - Willing To Reconsider Issue After Further Discovery" »