Clergy Abuse in Oregon

Clergy Abuse – Oregon

The Society of Jesus, Oregon, has agreed to pay $166 million to settle the claims of hundreds of victims of clergy sexual abuse.  The claims span a 30-year period, from the 1950s to the 1980s.  They include victims across a five-state region, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.  Most victims still live in the region. The settlement of more than 500 individual claims, the result of over a year of negotiations, is believed to be the single-largest, clergy sex-abuse bankruptcy settlement in the United States.  While a number of Catholic Dioceses have filed for bankruptcy, including the Spokane Diocese, the Jesuits are the first religious order to seek bankruptcy protection. http://bitchclown.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/jesuits-settle-for-166-million-in-clergy-abuse-cases-krem-oregon/

Legal experts say the verdict against the Boy Scouts by an Oregon jury could have a snowball effect in much the same way high-profile molestation suits against the Roman Catholic Church had early on. They say the $1.4 million verdict could spur more former Scouts who were victiLegal experts say Tuesday’s verdict against the Boy Scouts by an Oregon jury could have a snowball effect in much the same way high-profile molestation suits against the Roman Catholic Church had early on. They say the $1.4 million verdict could spur more former Scouts who were victims of sexual abuse to file suits.  “There is a sense of relief, validation and empowerment and psychological well-being when you see that your story can be embraced by a jury of your peers,” said Portland attorney David Paul, who has represented abuse victims suing a wide range of institutions but was not involved in this case. “It’s not just about the money.” Although the Boy Scouts of America has been sued at least 60 times since the mid-1980s, no other Scout sex abuse trial has garnered such intense scrutiny coast to coast and had such potential to damage the Boy Scouts’ brand, said Patrick Boyle, the leading national expert on the issue and the author of “Scout’s Honor: Sexual Abuse in America’s Most Trusted Institution.” ms of sexual abuse to file suits. Although the Boy Scouts of America has been sued at least 60 times since the mid-1980s, no other Scout sex abuse trial has garnered such intense scrutiny coast to coast and had such potential to damage the Boy Scouts’ brand, said Patrick Boyle, the leading national expert on the issue and the author of “Scout’s Honor: Sexual Abuse in America’s Most Trusted Institution.” http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/portland_sex_abuse_verdict_lea.html

Attorney Samuel Rogatinsky cares about survivors of sexual Abuse. In addition to clergy abuse cases, Sam will expose sexual abusers from every type of organization or institution. Recently, Mr. Rogatinsky filed suit against a mental health facility that was abusing a patient. He wll review the circumstances of each particular case and guide survivors through the maze that they must navigate in order to get justice. In addition to clergy, priest and rabbi abuse, the Rogatinsky Firm will handle sexual abuse cases against churches, schools, medical professionals such as psychologists, mental health facilities, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs and athletic organizations. Sexual abuse is not tolerated by the Rogatinsky Firm and they will exhaust all resources before giving up on any case. You can reach Sam on the toll free number found on this site or call him at (954)444-4032 after hours. Mr. Rogatinsky  believes child sex abuse support groups like http://childmolestationprevention.org/ and http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Sexual-Abuse/support-group can be helpful too.

Contact Mr. Rogatinsky if you have any type of sex abuse or child sex abuse case. For your convenience, the statute of limitations for Nevada are listed here:

Statute of Limitations for Civil Cases in Oregon:

• Delayed Tolling for Sexual Offenses Against Minors : 18 years of age plus 6 years. Victims have six years from their 18th birthday to commerce their claims. Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 12.117(1) (2008).
• Discovery/”Should Have Discovered” Rule: Three-Year Extension : Accrual of the statute of limitations for a civil action may commence “not more than three years from the date the injured person discovers or in the exercise of reasonable care should have discovered the injury or the causal connection between the child abuse and the injury.” Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 12.117(1) (2008).
• Retroactivity of 7/8/93 O.R.S. 12.117 Statute : The legislature has deemed that the six-year statute of limitations and the three-year discovery statute are retroactive, and apply to all causes of action that arise before, on or after the effective date of act (7/8/93), and revive any cause of action that was previously barred by the 1991 statute. Also, any claim brought before the 1993 statute that was previously barred by the 40 years of age constraint was now free to be brought up until one year after the commencement of the 1993 statute. P.H. v. F.C., 873 P.2d 465, 466, 127, Or.App. 592 (Or. Ct. App. 1994); Act effected Aug. 10, 1993, c. 622, sec. 2, § 12.117, 1993 Or. Laws (West).

Statute of Limitations for Criminal Cases in Oregon:

• There is a varying Statute of Limitations based on the sexual abuse itself. Six-Year Statute of Limitations for Felonies; Four Years of Misdemeanors : Certain felonies, including incest, sexual abuse in the first and second degree, have a six-year statute of limitations after the commission of the offense. If the victim is under 18 years of age, criminal proceedings must be brought before the victim turns 30, or within twelve years of the after the incident is reported to legal authorities, which ever occurs first. For other misdemeanors involving sexual abuse in the third degree, the prosecution must be brought within four years of the offense. Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 131.125(2) (2008). If the victim was under 18 years of age, “anytime before the victim attains 22 years of age or within four years after the offense is reported to a law enforcement agency.” Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 131.125(3) (2008).
• Application of 6-Year SOL to Sexual Offenses : The Court of Appeals found that the extended six-year statute of limitations for sexual offenses, rather than the three-year limit for other felonies, applied to sexual abuse charges although amended limitations statute did not specify the offenses charged. State v. Sharp, 949 P.2d 1230, 1233, 151 Or.App. 122 (1997).

As of 01/01/2010, the following extension has been added in Oregon: http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2800.dir/hb2827.en.pdf