Were You Abused?

Iowa Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer - Iowa Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Settlements IA


If you were sexually abused as a child by a priest, deacon or any other member of the Catholic Church, you are not aloneWe are here to help you.  Please fill out our confidential online contact form or call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 and an Iowa Sexual Abuse Lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your possible case.   Help is available nationwide.  There is no cost to investigate and there are no legal fees unless you receive financial compensation.  Making the call is sometimes the hardest step, but it is often a necessary step on the road to healing.  Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer Iowa


Reasons to call


  • Hold the church and priests accountable
  • Prevent this from happening to someone else
  • Help with the road to recovery – settlement money can provide financial security for you.  It can also help pay for therapy, rehabilitation, and medical treatment














Please call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 or fill out our confidential contact form and a lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your case.  Iowa Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer































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Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer Iowa


While it may once have been possible to claim that cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic church were isolated or rare incidents, it is now clear that this problem is widespread throughout the nation and the world. Rather than just some parishes or dioceses containing bad apples, for many decades predator priests in every state could count on having their crimes minimized or covered up by allies in high places.  And the problem is just beginning to be addressed.


Iowa Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer


New chapters of this story have come to light in every state. One such chapter occurred in the diocese of Dubuque.  In 2002, a Dallas man sued the diocese, saying he and another young man had been abused by Monsignor William Roach in 1962, when he was 17. Similar accusations against Roach have been made by two other men.


Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer Iowa


Roach worked in a number of locations, including Key West and Peosta, Iowa as well as Dubuque. Having died in a car accident in 1986, he cannot be prosecuted for his actions. Roach was found to have been intoxicated at the time of the accident.  Roach’s case is one of many in Dubuque in which priests were accused of abuse, and the church was sued for damages.


Iowa Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer


In 2013 a case involving 10 priests was resolved for $5.2 million. The case involved 22 male and 4 female victims. The abuse occurred in the 1940s through 1970s. Multi-party suits like this one are possible when a number of plaintiffs claim that they have suffered the same type of wrong or injury, by the same party (in this case, the Catholic church). Combining their cases is not only more efficient for legal professionals, it also helps show judges and juries the widespread nature of the harm the plaintiffs are alleging. Whereas one person’s account of sexual abuse may be relatively easy to discount, 26 people with similar stories are difficult to ignore.


Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer Iowa


In multi-party lawsuits, each receives a share of any damages awarded. In this case, the plaintiff’s lawyer said the $5.2 million was “divided equitably in accordance with the nature and extent of the abuse each suffered and their resulting injuries.”  The Dubuque cases are like others around the country, in that they shed light on incidents that occurred decades ago. With victims having been reluctant to speak out in the past, many long-buried secrets are only now coming to light.


In a 2018 statement, the current archbishop of Dubuque detailed safeguards that are now in place to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. These include background checks, safe environment training and an Archdiocesan Review Board that investigates accusations in an unbiased way.


Iowa Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawyer

















































Call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 for a Free, Confidential Consultation.  No Legal Fees Unless You Receive Settlement. 

Priest Sex Abuse Lawyer 

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Priest Sexual Abuse Lawyer Iowa - Free Confidential Consultation - 1-866-777-2557