Michigan Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit
The Michigan Attorney General recently completed a five-year investigation into reports of sexual abuse and misconduct by clergy members in the state’s Catholic dioceses. Survivors of clergy abuse in Michigan have legal rights and options for seeking accountability, potentially including filing a civil lawsuit to hold religious institutions accountable for failing to protect them.
- Survivors of clergy abuse in Michigan may be able to file a civil lawsuit and seek accountability from the perpetrator and the institutions that enabled the abuse.
- The Michigan statute of limitations allows child sexual abuse survivors to file civil lawsuits up until their 28th birthday or within three years of discovering the causal connection between the harm and the abuse, whichever is later.
- If you or a loved one suffered sexual abuse by clergy in Michigan, you have options for holding the responsible parties accountable. Get legal help today.
The Michigan Attorney General's Clergy Abuse Investigation
From 2018 through 2023, the Michigan Attorney General conducted a wide-reaching investigation into allegations of abuse at all seven of the state’s Roman Catholic dioceses: the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Dioceses of Marquette, Gaylord, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Saginaw.
During the investigation, the Attorney General’s office reviewed more than 5 million documents from Michigan dioceses and identified hundreds of victims. To date, prosecutors have filed criminal charges in 11 cases involving the Roman Catholic dioceses.
Of the 11 criminal cases that resulted from the investigation, the state has secured nine convictions against Michigan Catholic clergy members who committed sexual abuse against minors, many decades ago. In addition, the tip line used in the investigation generated over 1,000 total tips from at least 180 alleged victims of clergy abuse.
Individual reports for each diocese have been released on a schedule since 2024.
Who Has Been Named in Michigan Clergy Abuse Reports?
The Attorney General’s reports name credibly accused clergy diocese by diocese, and that inclusion is not itself a criminal conviction, though some priests have been criminally charged and convicted.
The state reported that 51 priests in the Diocese of Grand Rapids have been accused of sexual misconduct since 1950.
In the Diocese of Saginaw, 37 priests and one deacon have been accused of sexual misconduct during the same period.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of Lansing has had 48 priests, four religious brothers, and four deacons accused of sexual misconduct since 1950. The Lansing allegations have resulted in criminal charges against the following:
- Vincent DeLorenzo: A former priest with the Holy Redeemer Church in Burton who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a five-year-old boy.
- Timothy Crowley: A former priest with the St. Thomas Rectory in Ann Arbor who was convicted of two counts of criminal sexual conduct.
- Joseph Comperchio: A former music teacher at the St. John Catholic School in Jackson who was convicted of four counts of criminal sexual conduct.
Table of Contents
- The Michigan Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Investigation
- Who Can File a Michigan Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit?
- Michigan’s Statute of Limitations for Clergy Abuse Claims
- Michigan Clergy Abuse Settlements
- How a Michigan Clergy Abuse Lawyer Can Help Survivors
- Legal Rights and Options for Michigan Clergy Abuse Survivors
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Who Can File a Michigan Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit?
Survivors across numerous categories may have grounds to file a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit in Michigan, including the following:
- Survivors abused as minors by clergy from any Michigan diocese or denomination
- Survivors assaulted as adults by a clergy member who misused their position of spiritual authority
- Survivors, regardless of whether the abuser was criminally charged or convicted
- Survivors who no longer live in Michigan or whose abuser is deceased or no longer serving in ministry
Who Can Be Sued for Michigan Clergy Abuse?
Although individual clergy members can be sued for Michigan clergy abuse, survivors may also have claims against religious institutions. Religious organizations and institutions may be held liable in a civil lawsuit for covering up allegations, transferring problematic clergy to avoid consequences, failing to adequately supervise clergy, failing to conduct proper background checks, or otherwise enabling the abuse. Therefore, survivors may still be able to file a lawsuit even if the perpetrator of the abuse is now deceased.
Among the institutions that may be held accountable for clergy abuse via a lawsuit are the diocese or archdiocese where the perpetrator served, the supervising bishops or church leaders who knew of and concealed abuse, religious orders, or other organizations. The liable parties depend on the specifics of each case.
Michigan's Statute of Limitations for Clergy Abuse Claims
Under Michigan law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse generally have until their 28th birthday to file a lawsuit. However, if a survivor can prove the memory of the abuse has been repressed, they have three years from the date they discovered the harm to file suit. The deadline may also be extended under fraudulent concealment laws if an institution actively worked to hide the abuse from the survivor.
For survivors of adult sexual assault, the deadline for taking civil legal action is three years.
It’s crucial to speak with an attorney regardless of when the abuse occurred, since deadlines are dependent on the facts of the case. Pending legislation also means these laws are subject to change.
Michigan Clergy Abuse Settlements
The value of a Michigan clergy abuse case depends on several factors, such as the nature and severity of the abuse, its duration, its impacts on the victim’s life, and whether an institutional cover-up is involved. While there have not been many publicized Michigan clergy abuse settlements in recent years, clergy abuse litigation nationwide has resulted in sizeable settlements and verdicts for survivors and their families.
How a Michigan Clergy Abuse Lawyer Can Help Survivors
A Michigan clergy abuse lawyer can help survivors by providing support, guidance, and trauma-informed representation throughout the legal process. This process begins with a free, confidential case evaluation to determine the facts, applicable deadlines, and liable parties in your case. At Helping Survivors, we partner with Milberg to provide survivors with experienced legal representation with no upfront costs.
Legal Rights and Options for Michigan Clergy Abuse Survivors
Aside from filing a civil lawsuit against the institution that enabled clergy abuse, survivors in Michigan can also report the abuse to law enforcement and oversight agencies. While reporting abuse is not a required step in the civil legal process, it can help create a paper trail and could lead to criminal charges against the perpetrator if they are still alive.
You can call 911 for immediate safety concerns, or contact your local police department or the Attorney General at 844-324-3374 to file a report.
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