More than 200 lawsuits filed in WNY under Child Victims Act

By Charlie Specht
WKBW TV
September 24, 2019

https://bit.ly/2ltgeX5

More than 200 lawsuits have been filed in Western New York under the Child Victims Act , and the Diocese of Buffalo is the defendant in 80 percent of them.

The total number of suits filed locally since the CVA's one-year "look-back window" went into effect in August topped the 200 mark Monday evening. Broken down by defendant, the numbers are as follows:

• Diocese of Buffalo: 168 lawsuits
• Kenmore Schools (Retired teacher Arthur Werner ): 26 lawsuits
• Other public schools: 7 lawsuits
• Misc. (Boy Scouts, Lutherans, nonprofits, individuals): 8 lawsuits

All told, there have been 209 lawsuits filed in Western New York under the Child Victims Act. Nearly half of those lawsuits -- exactly 100 -- have been filed by local attorney Steve Boyd and national clergy sex abuse attorney Jeff Anderson, who have joined forces.

“There are a lot of survivors suffering in Buffalo,” Anderson said in a written statement. “It’s time for reckoning, a massive clean-up and child protection.”

“We are honored to work for these brave survivors,” Boyd said in the statement. “We are always mindful of their suffering and their need for continued healing. Our work is far from over. Sadly we have dozens of more suits to file in the coming months.”

Below is a database of all lawsuits filed locally under the Child Victims Act.