Priests and Clergy Sexual Abuse in New York
New York Legislative Updates
New York’s Adult Victims Act Opens One-Year Revival Window
On May 24, 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law New York’s Adult Victims Act (“AVA”) – SB66-A. The AVA provides victims who were sexually abused as adults, i.e. when they were 18 years of age or older, to file suit against their abusers and responsible institutions or organizations. The AVA opens a one-year revival window during which all such claims for which the statute of limitations has expired, can be brought by the adult victims. The one-year window will open six (6) months from the Effective Date of the AVA – so approximately on November 24, 2022 – and close one year from then.
The AVA allows claims to be brought against the actual abuser and a responsible institution or business. For example, if the sexual abuse occurred in a public or private work environment, in a school or educational setting, or in any other context where the abuser was in the employment or under the supervision of a third-party institution, the employer, school (school district), or third-party may also be liable under the AVA.
If you or a loved one were sexually abused or assaulted at age 18 or older within the State of New York and would like to know more about the viability of your claim and how the litigation process works, now is the time to do so. Please submit your confidential inquiry using our E-Contact Form
New York Attorney General Issues Civil Subpoenas
In September, 2018, New York’s Attorney General issued eight subpoenas, one to each of the eight Catholic Church dioceses in New York. The subpoenas request all documents related to allegations and findings of sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy. The subpoenas reportedly also request all documents related to settlements of clergy sex abuse claims by each of the dioceses.
The state of New York has over 296 parishes servicing over 2.8 million Catholics. A number of dioceses have already created settlement programs for abuse victims. A few examples of New york dicoceses making announcements and creating settlement programs are listed below:
- Archdiocese of New York - $60 million settlement – 278 survivors of clergy sex abuse
- Diocese of Brooklyn - $27.5 million settlement – 4 abuse survivors
- Diocese of Brooklyn - Settlement Program - 374 settled claims – Approximately $500K each
- Syracuse Diocese - Beginning of 2018 reports 76 known victims of abuse
- Across 5 Dioceses - 1262 claims filed – 1133 claims with offers – 981 settled as of 9/2018
Governor Cuomo Signs New York Child Victims Act
On February 14, 2019, New York Governor Cuomo signed the New York Child Victims Act into law. The Childhood Victims Act was passed by the New York State legislature on January 28th and then awaited Governor Cuomo’s signature. With Governor Cuomo’s signature, the Childhood Victims Act is now the law in New York and provides for the following:
- Extends the time within which civil claims can be brought for childhood sexual abuse. Under previous law, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse could bring claims only up until the date of his/her 23rd birthday. Now, under the Childhood Victims Act such claims can be brought up until the survivor’s 55th birthday.
- Opens a one-year period of time within which survivors of child sexual abuse, whose claims are beyond the statute of limitations, can bring civil claims for harm and damages suffered as a result of the childhood sexual abuse.
This latter provision of the Childhood Victims Act took effect six months from February 14th, 2019. So beginning in mid-August, 2019, and continuing for a period of one year, survivors of childhood sexual abuse could file lawsuits in New York to compensate them for the harm and damages they suffered as a result of the childhood sexual abuse.
In July 2020, the NY Child Victims Act’s statute of limitations date of August 13, 2020 was extended to January 14, 2021. In addition, the NY Legislature has passed a bill that further extends the CVA statute of limitations until August 14, 2021. Governor Cuomo signed the bill into law on August 3, 2020.
We are currently working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse that was perpetrated in New York - reviewing and evaluating claims and providing legal representation.
Diocese of Rochester New York – Ch. 11 Bankruptcy
On September 12, 2019 the Diocese of Rochester New York filed a petition with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. When approved by the court, Chapter 11 allows a debtor (here the Rochester Diocese) to gain a “fresh start” by freeing itself of the claims of creditors by paying those creditors based on a plan that utilizes its available assets.
In the case of the plan proposed by the Rochester Diocese, one group (or class) of creditors consists of those individuals who have “Abuse Claims.” [This includes both child and adult victims to whom the Diocese may be liable.] On January 17, 2020, the Diocese filed a Motion with the Bankruptcy Court seeking approval of the administrative process of determining the claims of the Diocese’s creditors — including those individuals who have “Abuse Claims.” Generally speaking, and if approved by the Bankruptcy Court, the proposed process includes the following:
- A so–called “Bar Date” which is the date by which an “Abuse Claim” is required to be filed in order to be eligible for possible compensation
- The completion of a “Confidential Abuse Proof of Claim” which has to be complete, signed under the penalty of perjury and filed by the “Bar Date”
- The “Confidential Abuse Proof of Claim” can only be filed electronically using a dedicated process/portal or mailed or delivered by overnight courier
- The process is to be governed by a “Confidentiality Protocol.”
The Bankruptcy Court will rule on this Motion and the administrative process will begin.
Diocese of Rockville Centre (New York) Files for Chapter 11 Protection
On October 1, 2020 the New York Diocese of Rockville Centre filed a Chapter 11 Petition with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. According to the Diocese, the filing was the only way it could continue its operations and ensure that all survivors of child abuse perpetrated by Diocesan priests would be treated fairly. The Diocese and its advisors concluded that it could not continue to pay for the defense of approximately 200 lawsuits that have been filed against it under New York’s Child Victims Act.
The Diocese has compensated some 320 survivors of childhood sexual abuse through its Independent Compensation Survivors Program (IVCP) that was established in 2017. Unlike its experience with the IVCP, the Diocese’s costs to defend litigation and pay any verdicts are not controllable. According to its press release, the Diocese sought Chapter 11 protection to preserve its assets, continue its spiritual mission and ensure that all uncompensated survivors of abuse by Diocesan clergy can be treated equitably and fairly.
Clergy Members Credibly Accused of Abusing Children in New York
The following list includes current or former priests who have been sued and/or suspended following allegations of sexual abuse of minors or have claims against them in the state of New York. We are actively pursuing cases against Catholic priests and clergy as well as figures from 8 different New York dioceses.
Important note: If the name of a priest or other member of clergy you are searching for does not appear in the lists below, it does not mean that you do not have a potential claim against that individual. These lists of credibly accused individuals are always expanding as more information is brought forth to the dioceses and to authorities. Please contact us if you or a loved one has been abused by a priest or other clergy member, regardless of whether they appear in the lists below or not.
Archdiocese of New York
The following list contains Priests and Clergy from the Archdiocese of New York, New York who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor:
- Joseph Adamo
- John C. Albino
- Sister Mary Andrew
- Joseph Ansaldi
- Linda Baisi
- Peter Barjacoba
- Juan Bazalar
- Martin Betances-Torres
- Dominic Bokulich (Brother Leopold)
- Laurence Boschetto
- George Boxelaar
- Francis V. Boyle
- John Joseph Brady
- Timothy Brady
- Robert J. Brennan
- Harry J. Byrne
- Daniel A. Calabrese
- Richard Carbo
- Robert Carden
- Cornelius Carr
- Maurice Carroll
- David L. Carson
- John F. Carson
- Daniel Cassiero
- Joseph M. Clark
- Vincent Clyne
- Charles P. Coen
- Kevin Colleran
- John W. Coppinger
- Daniel Croston
- Bernard Cullen
- Thomas Cunningham
- Herbert D’Argenio
- Herbert D'Argenio
- Donald Dickson (Deacon)
- Edward Dobransky
- Daniel M. Dougherty
- Roy A. Drake
- Jaime (James) Duenas
- Anthony Joseph Eremito
- Keith Fennessy
- Joseph Fitzgerald
- John Flaherty
- John D. Flanagan
- Vincent Fox
- Albin D. Fusco
- Thomas J. Gaffney
- Kevin Gallagher
- Alfred F. Gallant
- Damian Galligan
- Gennaro Gentile
- Kenneth Gerathy
- Thomas Gibbons
- Anthony J. Giuliano
- Matthew Golden
- Lawrence Gordon
- Richard Gorman
- William T. Greene
- John Harrington
- Wallace A. Harris
- Robert Harrison
- John Haverty
- Herman Heide
- Paul Kevin Hennessy
- Jorge Patricio Pintado Herrera
- Joseph Hickey
- Eugene Hicks
- Raymond A. Hyland
- Lawrence C. Inzeo
- Robert A. Jeffers
- John Joseph Jenik
- Kenneth A. Jesselli
- Charles M. Kavanagh
- Walter Kearns
- Kevin Kelly
- Stephen Kelly
- Timothy Kelly
- Jack Kennington
- Peter Kiarie
- Peter J. Kihm
- Thomas L. Kreiser
- Morgan J. Kuhl
- Ralph W. LaBelle
- James LeBar
- John W. Lennon
- Arthur Leone
- James A. Liguori (Ligouri)
- Francis Logue
- Robert V. Lott
- Bernard Lynch
- John J. Lynch
- Joseph Maffei
- Stephen Maguire
- Donald T. Malone
- Eugene Mangan
- Arthur Manzione
- Umberto Marino
- Patrick H. Martin
- Stanley Mathews
- Albert J. Mazza
- Theodore McCarrick (Cardinal)
- James F. McCarthy (Bishop)
- Richard J. McCormick
- Charles McDonagh
- Charles McGirr
- Robert B. McGovern
- Lawrence McNeill (Deacon)
- John T. Meehan
- Mortimer Melican
- Henry Mills
- Arthur E. Murphy
- Edmund W. Netter
- Randolph Nowak
- Edward J. O’Brien
- William B. O’Brien
- Kenneth O’Connell
- Michael O’Herlihy
- John O’Keefe
- Eugene J O'Brien
- John Francis O'Brien
- Kenneth F. O'Connell
- John Justin O'Connor
- Michael D. O'Herlihy
- John O'Keefe
- John P.
- Edmond A. Parrakow
- Harold Parsons
- James Pfeiffer
- Thomas Phillips
- Edward Pipala
- Christopher Pliauplis
- Robert Post
- Dominic Quigley
- Patrick W. Quigley
- Lawrence J. Quinn
- Michael Raimondo
- George Reinheimer
- Louis (Luis) J. Rios
- Bruce Ritter
- Esteban Rodriguez
- Ruben Rodriguez
- Sean Leo Rooney
- Edward Roos
- Joseph Ryan
- John Sardy
- Alan Scheneman
- Raymond Shine
- Francis Stinner
- Daniel J. L. Sullivan
- Paul Sullivan
- Vincent Taglienti
- James Tamburrino
- Samuel Taylor
- Joseph L. Theisen (Thiesen)
- Donald G. Timone
- Robert A. Titone
- Aldo Tos
- John Voglio
- James Walsh
- Joseph Weckbach (Deacon)
- James Welby
- Donald J. Whelan (Whalen)
- William T. White
- John Wilkinson
- William E. Williams
- Casper G. Wolf
Diocese of Albany
The following list contains Priests and Clergy from the Diocese of Albany, New York who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor:
- David G. Bentley
- John Patrick Bertolucci
- John W. Broderick
- Neil Cawlings
- Charles R. Celeste
- John F. Connolly
- Anthony Curran
- Ralph Di Pasquale
- Louis E. Douglas
- Raymond J. Ethier
- John F. Fitzpatrick
- Angel Garcia
- Frank M Genevive
- Mark Haight
- William J. Heim
- Howard J. Hubbard (BP)
- Alan D. Jupin
- James E. Kelly
- John Klebie (Klebauskas)
- Robert J. LeFevre
- Edward N. Leroux
- Daniel J. Maher
- Joseph A. Mancuso
- Richard (Philip) Mataconis
- James J. McDevitt
- Sean McMahon
- James R. McNerney
- John Mea
- Gary J. Mercure
- Michael J. Miller
- Jeremiah Nunan
- Donald J. Ophals
- Lawrence Pizzutti
- Edward C. Pratt
- George Puello
- Robert H. Purcell
- Salvatore ("Sam") A. Rodino
- Joseph R. Romano
- James J. Rosch
- Robert S. Shinos
- William M. Slavin
- Donald Starks
- Carl Stone
- James (Michael) Taylor
- Carl A. Urban
- Dozia J. Wilson
Diocese of Brooklyn
The following list contains Priests and Clergy from the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor:
- John L. Abrams
- Anthony Acciarito
- Joseph V. Agostino
- Bennet Akuzie
- Louis Aufiero
- William L. Authenrieth
- John Bals
- Hugo F. Bedoya
- Thomas F. Brady
- Edward C. Brennan
- Joseph P. Byrns
- Roberto Antonio Cadavid
- Brian Callahan
- Francis (Frank) J. Capellupo
- Nicholas J. Capua
- Christopher Lee Coleman
- James P. Collins
- Eugene A. Connolly
- Augusto Cortez
- Harold T. Cox
- Michael J. Dempsey
- John R. Dwyer
- Anthony J. Failla
- Romano J. Ferraro
- Robert A. Ferro
- William E. Finger
- Vincent Gallo
- Robert Guiry
- Joseph Hassan
- John Hauser
- Edward J. Huckemeyer
- James I. J.
- Enrique Diaz Jimenez
- Howard J./H. Joseph
- George Kayser
- Brian Keller
- James (Jaime) R. Lara
- Richard Lewkiewicz
- Andrezj Lukianiuk
- Charles M. Mangini
- Francis J. Manzo
- Edward L. Maurer
- Henry J. McCloud
- Robert J. McConnin
- Herbert J. McElroy
- John G. McLoughlin
- John McLoughlin (Brother)
- Edward J. McNicholas
- Arthur Minichello
- Thomas O. Morrow
- Francis X. Mulhall
- Cornelius T. Neil
- Francis X. Nelson
- Thomas Nohilly
- James T. O’Brien
- Anthony Ocloo
- Ben O'Reilly
- Thomas J. O'Rourke
- Robert P. Petekiewicz
- Ronald P. Petroski
- Stephen Placa
- Charles Plock
- Adam Prochaski
- Joseph Pugliese
- Arthur D. Purcell
- Ricardo Raveneau
- Brother/Salvador J. Romanus/Brocato
- James E. Russo
- Barry E. Ryan
- Michael J. Salamone
- Michael Salerno
- Joseph Schuck
- Patrick O. Sexton
- Vincent Sforza
- Daniel J. Sheehan
- James G. Sickler
- James T. Smith
- Protasio Soares
- George J. Stack
- John Thompson
- Robert A. Titone
- Paul Vazhappily
- George Voiland
- Joseph J. Weber
- Kenneth Wicks
- George F. Zatarga
- Vincent A. Zollo
Diocese of Buffalo
The following list contains Priests and Clergy from the Diocese of Buffalo, New York who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor:
- John R Aurelio
- Benedict P Barszcz
- Donald W. Becker
- David W Bialkowski
- Robert J Biesinger
- James Burson
- Robert P. Conlin
- J. Peter Conroy
- Paul R. Coppola
- James H Cotter
- Denman Dewey
- Donald S Fafinski
- Douglas F Faraci
- Fred G Fingerle
- Michael R Freeman
- Joseph P Friel
- Mark M Friel
- Dennis A. Fronczak
- James C. Gould
- Gerard Leo Green
- Thomas G Gresock
- John P Hajduk
- Michael J Harrington
- Brian M. Hatrick
- James P Hayes
- Louis J Hendricks
- Linus Hennessy
- Roy Herberger
- J Grant Higgins
- Francis T Hogan
- Sylvester J. Holbel
- Stanley Dominic Idziak
- Fred D Ingalls
- Pascal D. Ipolito
- Florian A Jasinski
- Gerald C Jasinski
- Richard P Judd
- Michael P. Juran
- Paul M. Keeling
- Timothy J Kelley
- Thomas L Kemp
- Richard J Keppeler
- Theodore Kocian
- Linus E. Kopczewski
- Frederick D. Leising
- John D Lewandowski
- Michael M. Lewandowski
- Bernard M Mach (Corky)
- Loville N Martlock
- Fabian Maryanski
- Rene Maynard
- Thomas J McCarthy
- Francis McKenna
- Ronald Mierzwa
- Vincent Mooney
- Robert D. Moss
- Basil A Ormsby
- Norbert F Orsolits
- Daniel J. Palys
- Martin L Pavlock
- Joseph Rappl
- Dennis G. Riter
- Roy K Ronald
- Ronald Sajdak
- John J. Sardina
- Joseph E Schieder
- Joseph A. Schuster
- Gerald P. Sheehan
- Ronald T. Silverio
- Howard B. Slack
- Arthur J. Smith
- Gerard A Smyczynski
- James Smyka
- Clatus E. Snyder
- James A. Spielman
- Bernard Splawski
- Chester S Stachewicz
- William George Stanton
- Robert A. Stolinski
- Harry Richard Strassberger
- Pauline Terese, (O.S.F.)
- Edward Townsend, (C.J.M.)
- Samuel J. Venne
- Joseph J. Vogel
- Edward J Walker
- William G Ward
- Charles Werth
- William F J White
- Mark Wolski
- Robert W Wood
Diocese of Ogdensburg
The following list contains Priests and Clergy from the Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor:
- Fay W. Ager
- Joseph Conti
- Joseph A. Degen/Degan
- Robert O. Duford
- John J. Fallon
- Ronald J. Farchette
- Bruce T. Favreau
- Edward L. Franklin
- Theodore M. Gillette
- John Hunt
- Edwin A. Kennedy
- John M. Kennedy
- Emile G. LaLonde
- James M. Larche
- Roger M. Martin
- Gerald McGrath
- Roland V. Menard
- Liam O'Doherty
- Albert R. Plante
- Thomas W. Rogers
- Gerald Sharland
- Robert M. Shurtleff
- Thomas Squires
- George W. Tobin
- Michael A. Toth
- Clark S. White
- John F. Wiley
- David E. Wisniewski
- Paul F. Worczak
Diocese of Rochester
The following list contains Priests and Clergy from the Diocese of Rochester, New York who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor:
- David L. Bonin
- Thomas W. Burr
- Albert H. Cason
- Bernard Casper
- Paul I. Cloonan
- Thomas Corbett
- John M. Costello
- Eugene G. Emo
- John Gormley
- David N. Gramkee
- Gerard J. Guli
- Robert W. Hammond
- John Laurence Heathwood
- G. Stuart Hogan
- Joseph E. Larrabee
- William D. Lum
- Charles J. McCarthy
- Robert F. O'Neill
- Richard J. Orlando
- Vincent Panepinto
- Foster P. Rogers
- Paul R. Schnacky
- Dennis R. Sewar
- Dennis J. Shaw
- Gary P. Shaw
- David P. Simon
- John J. Steger
- Conrad Sundholm
- Thomas J. Valenti
- Francis H. Vogt
- Michael Volino
- Robert J. Winterkorn
Diocese of Rockville Centre
The following list contains Priests and Clergy from the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor:
- Peter A. Allen
- Daniel G. Babis
- James J. Bergin
- William G. Breslawski
- Brian J. Brinker
- Robert L. Brown
- William Michael Burke (Rockville Ctr)
- John R. Butler
- Michael A. Carroll (In New York)
- Peter Charland
- Gerard J. (Jerry) Chasse
- Basil Peter Congro
- Damian Lawrence Cooper
- Gloria Czarniewicz
- Edward R. D'Andrea
- Thomas F. Devita
- Angelo J. Ditta
- Peter L. Duvelsdorf
- Matthew Fitzgerald
- Priest G (Name Withheld)
- Michael R. Hands
- Kenneth C. Hasselbach
- Robert D. Huneke
- Priest K (Name Withheld)
- Richard Kammerer
- Priest L (Name Withheld)
- William R. Logan
- Finian (Robert) Magee
- John E Mahoney
- Gabriel Massaro
- Joseph C. McComiskey
- R. Thomas McConaghy
- John J. McGeever
- Brian A. McKeon
- George J. Michell
- Andrew L. Millar
- James C. Miller
- Salvatore J. Miraglia
- John D. Mott
- Joseph T. Mundy
- Howard Murphy
- Priest N (Name Withheld)
- Kenneth T. Nee
- Louis I. Newman
- Frank J. Parisi
- Alan J. Placa
- Priest Q (Name Withheld)
- Priest R (Name Withheld)
- Charles A. Ribaudo
- Brendan P. Riordan (Reardon)
- Priest S (Name Withheld)
- Robert J. Saccacio
- Thomas G. Saloy
- Richard Schaefer
- Alfred B Soave
- Raymond V. Stegmann
- Gerald Twomey
- Priest U (Name Withheld)
- Nicholas Unterstein
- Eugene Vollmer
- James C. Williams
- Gregory Yacyshyn
Diocese of Syracuse
The following list contains Priests and Clergy from the Diocese of Syracuse, New York who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor:
- Thomas S. Bayley
- Robert J. Birchmeyer
- Robert F. Bogan
- Roger A. Bowen
- Paul A. Brigandi
- Daniel W. Casey, Jr.
- Felix R. Colosimo
- Donald J. Crosby
- John H. Donovan
- Edmund J. Durr
- Charles H. Eckermann
- Francis J. Furfaro
- Luke V. Gallagher
- Bernard A. Garstka
- Donald L. Gorman
- Thomas F. Guyder
- John F. Harrold
- Ferdinand A. Hattala
- James C. Hayes
- Donald J. Hebert
- Leo J. Heizman
- Edgar M. Holihan
- Edgar P. Humphrey
- David J. Jutton
- Thomas F. Keating
- Edward X. Kieley
- Robert J. Kloster
- C. Vincent Lane
- Steven J. Litz, Jr.
- William A. Lorenz
- John Lugowski
- William J. Lynch
- Edward C. "Ted" Madore
- George F. Mattice
- John A. McCarthy
- Chester A. Misercola
- William J. Morris
- John J. "Jack" Morse
- Thomas E. Neary
- Robert A. Ours
- Joseph A. Pace
- Thomas M. Powell
- Albert J. Proud
- Edward George Quaid
- James F. Quinn
- James A. Quinn
- Francis L. Sammons
- H. Charles Sewall
- Walter A. Sinnott
- Paul J. Slavetskas
- Martin J. Tracy
- Thomas Trane
- John P. Wagner
- David J. Walker
- Jerome F. Weber
- Thomas J. Zedar
- John M. Zeder
Sources
