Clergy Sex Abuse Article Published in Illinois Bar Journal

By Christopher T. Hurley
Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog
November 1, 2012

http://www.chicagoinjurylawyerblog.com/2012/11/clergy_sex_abuse_article_publi.html

An article entitled, Child Sexual Abuse by Clergy: Statute of Limitations and Repose Challenges, written by Christopher T. Hurley and Mark R. McKenna, was recently published in the November 2012 issue of the Illinois Bar Journal. The article discusses a recent Illinois Appellate Court decision in a clergy sex abuse case and its implications for attorneys of child sex abuse victims.

In Wisniewski v. Diocese of Belleville, the Illinois Appellate Court held that a Catholic Diocese’s fraudulent concealment of abuse by its priest tolled the statutes of limitation and repose. In other words, a now middle-aged victim of child sex abuse could still bring his claim against the diocese, even though a great deal of time had passed since the abuse, because the diocese prevented the man from discovering the abuse.

In their article, Mr. Hurley and Mr. McKenna review the Wisniewski case in depth, give an overview of Illinois law on clergy sex abuse, and provide guidance for other attorneys handling clergy sex abuse cases. As Chicago attorneys with extensive experience handling child sex abuse cases, Mr. Hurley and Mr. McKenna hope that this article helps attorneys continue to challenge the unfair impediments to courageous victims of childhood sexual abuse pursuing their claims in Illinois courts.