Catholic Friars of California, a Roman Catholic organization dedicating to serving the poor, has recently filed for bankruptcy as a direct result of the almost 100 lawsuits the organization is facing. Some claims go as far back as the 1940s, and most of the friars named in the claims are deceased. Still, under California law, victims of child sex abuse have an extended timeframe to sue. The organization stated that legal and financial council determined that litigation costs and liability would exceed their financial capacity, so bankruptcy would be the only way to ensure that survivors received fair compensation.

This is just one of the many religious organizations that has recently declared bankruptcy in response to child sex abuse complaints. Unfortunately, child sex abuse is rampant. Friars, priests, and other religious figures abuse their positions and their access to children to abuse them. In many cases, children are afraid to speak up about the abuse or simply do not have the words to explain the abuse to their parents or guardians. Additionally, there are often cases in which the abuse was reported but the organization failed to do anything about it.

If you or a member of your family were abused by a friar, a priest, a pastor, or any other staff with a religious organization, you may have the right to sue. You could sue even if it has been decades since the abuse. This is because victims of child sex abuse have an extended statute of limitations. Based on the details surrounding the abuse, you may also have the right to monetary compensation – even if the organization declared bankruptcy.

For more information about the legal options available to you, contact us today. Our team is ready to guide you every step of the way and help you secure the payout that you are owed.