Grand Rapids Diocese Priest Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Lawyers Helping Families Harmed by Priest Sex Abuse in the Grand Rapids Diocese

Priest sexual abuse in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese is a deep problem that affects adult survivors, their families, their parishes and the broader Catholic community in the state of Michigan. Priest sexual abuse in the Grand Rapids Diocese broke a sacred trust and led to decades of (often silent) suffering. New legislation in Michigan has given clergy sexual abuse survivors in the Grand Rapids Diocese new rights to report child sexual abuse that happened decades ago.

Now, survivors of priest sexual abuse in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese can finally seek justice and much-deserved compensation in a court of law. Supported by loved ones, many survivors are taking the brave and healing step of reporting their experience of child sexual abuse at the hands of a Grand Rapids Diocese priest, bishop, or other Catholic clergy member for the first time, sometimes many decades after the events took place.

Leading up to the expansion of survivors' legal rights to report child sexual abuse in the Grand Rapids Diocese of Michigan, the Michigan Attorney General's office has been engaged in a multi-year investigation to unearth the long and deep history of priest and clergy sexual abuse in the Grand Rapids Diocese. To date, more than 450 Catholic clergy members in the Grand Rapids Diocese and other Catholic dioceses around the state have been accused of inflicting sex abuse on children and youth. Over 800 survivors have come forward to report incidents of priest sexual abuse from their childhoods. Many bishops, priests, and other clergy members in the Grand Rapids Diocese have been accused of multiple acts of sexual abuse. To avoid scandal, priests accused of child sexual abuse may have been shuffled to a new parish within the Grand Rapids Diocese, or to another diocese or state–where they went on to inflict more harm. To date, eleven clergy members have been convicted of priest sex abuse, in the Grand Rapids Diocese and others.

Even if the abuse occurred decades ago, you may now be eligible to file a Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawsuit. Contact our Michigan priest sexual abuse attorneys serving the Grand Rapids Diocese for a free, confidential consultation to see if you qualify.

When California passed similar legislation in 2002, Catholic dioceses there paid $1.2 billion in priest sex abuse settlements. Similar payouts have followed in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, after those states expanded the rights of survivors to report priest sexual abuse dating back decades. Damages may include past and future medical expenses related to the abuse (including mental health needs), emotional suffering, and punitive damages.

Deciding to report priest sexual abuse is a very personal choice and the wishes of the survivor always come first. As experienced personal injury attorneys, our priest sexual abuse lawyers for the Grand Rapids Diocese have worked with countless families through the most difficult time in their lives. If you are a survivor of priest sexual abuse in the Grand Rapids Diocese, we want you to know that what happened to you was not your fault. It is our mission to seek justice on behalf of you and others like you, and to help you access the compensation you need and deserve.

Some survivors say that filing a claim for clergy sexual abuse in the Grand Rapids Diocese can help in your healing process. Filing a Grand Rapids Diocese clergy sexual abuse lawsuit also sends a strong message that this type of behavior is not tolerated in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese any longer.

If you would like to learn more about filing a claim, contact our firm for a free consultation. Our primary goal is to assist and support survivors in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese as they take this brave step--bringing our expertise, considerable resources and determination to win on your behalf.

Grand Rapids Diocese Priest Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Reporting harm that happened during your past can take a tremendous amount of courage. Yet adult survivors say that filing a Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuit can be an important step in the healing process. First, filing a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese can serve to hold Grand Rapids Diocese, parish or school leaders accountable for their failure to protect children. Second, you may be entitled to significant compensation for the pain and suffering you have experienced over the years. Read full information on filing a confidential priest sex abuse lawsuit in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese.

Grand Rapids Diocese Priest Sex Abuse Lawsuit FAQs

Our attorneys have compiled a list of common Grand Rapids Diocese clergy sex abuse lawsuit questions and answers. From your role in a lawsuit to confidentiality, the cost of filing a claim to details on who is eligible to report, this page answers the most common Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuit questions received by our firm. To ask specific questions about your circumstances, our attorneys are providing free and confidential case reviews. Read full clergy sexual abuse lawsuit questions and answers for Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese.

Grand Rapids Diocese Priest Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Our team of Michigan priest sexual abuse attorneys serving the Grand Rapids Diocese bring great care to the work of representing adult survivors. We understand the sensitive nature of disclosing harm and trauma in your past. Through confidential and free case reviews, our Catholic clergy sexual abuse attorneys for Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese can give you a sense of your legal rights and options. Read full information on legal representation from our priest sex abuse lawyers for Grand Rapids Diocese claims.

Grand Rapids Diocese Priest Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Survivors of Priest Sexual Abuse in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese Have New Rights Under Expanded Statute of Limitations

If you or a loved one is an adult survivor of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest or clergy member in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese, you may have new and expanded rights to file a Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawsuit to recover compensation for damages.

In 2023, the Michigan legislature made landmark changes enabling survivors of child sexual abuse to pursue justice in a court of law for incidents that took place decades ago. This change comes in the wake of a multi-year investigation by the office of the Michigan Attorney General into priest sexual abuse allegations dating back to the 1970s.

More than 450 priests from the Grand Rapids Diocese and others have been implicated in over 800 allegations of Michigan priest sexual abuse--so far. Now these survivors can bring forward Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawsuits and seek damages for the associated pain, suffering and loss. Michigan priest sexual abuse lawsuits aim to hold institutions, such as the Grand Rapids Diocese and its parishes and schools, responsible for harm caused to the children and youth in their care.

Grand Rapids Diocese Priest Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Bring Institutions to Justice

Priest sex abuse lawsuits in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese enable adult survivors and their family members to seek compensation for the pain and suffering resulting from these horrible incidents. Michigan follows several other states including California, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania in expanding the statute of limitations, and our attorneys anticipate the Michigan Catholic Church will establish a victims compensation to handle the large number of claims that can be expected from the Grand Rapids Diocese and others.

Even if the abuse occurred decades ago, you may be eligible for compensation under Michigan's new law. Contact our Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse attorneys for a free consultation.

Alongside the ongoing statewide investigation by the Office of the Michigan Attorney General, each Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuit will help to prevent future sexual abuse of children by Grand Rapids Diocese priests, sending a message to both perpetrators and institutions that priest sexual abuse will no longer be tolerated in the Grand Rapids Diocese of Michigan. Our attorneys handling Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuits are committed to bringing to justice each of the seven Catholic dioceses in Michigan, along with their hundreds of parishes, schools and summer camps, no matter how complex the case.

Filing a Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawsuit can be an important step in the healing process for victims who were abused by a priest or youth group leader in their childhood. Many adults who experienced sexual abuse during childhood have kept the experience buried emotionally if not completely unspoken for decades. It is not uncommon to find adult survivors of Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse have suffered from unexplained challenges such as addiction, anxiety or depression. Confronting abuse and mistreatment you experienced as a child is a difficult and painful process, but it can lead to vital healing.

Grand Rapids Diocese Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

If you or a member of your family experienced sexual abuse at the hands of a priest or Catholic clergy member in the Grand Rapids Diocese, you may qualify to file a priest sexual abuse lawsuit to recover compensation for emotional and physical suffering and its impacts throughout life. Filing Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuits is the only way for adult survivors and their families to access compensation or hold the parish or diocese accountable for resultant harm and suffering.

Our attorneys are accepting priest sexual abuse lawsuits from Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese, and offer no-cost, no-obligation case review for persons throughout the Grand Rapids Diocese who were sexually abused by a member of the Catholic clergy. To discuss your situation in detail with an attorney and to learn about survivors' rights to file priest sex abuse lawsuits in the Grand Rapids Diocese, please complete our online contact form. One of our attorneys handling Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuits will contact you promptly.

Priests accused of sexual abuse from parishes in the Grand Rapids Diocese:

• Father Eugene F. Alvesteffer was ordained in 1965 to the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Father Alvesteffer appeared on the list of abusive clergymen from the Diocese of Grand Rapids in May 2002. In the 1970s, while he was working in Ludington on a particular assignment, as mentioned by the 1988 Catholic Directory, he was alleged to have sexually abused a minor. He passed away on January 18, 1998.
• Father Daniel C. Aerts was ordained in 1977 to the Diocese of Grand Rapids. In 2002, the Diocese received a letter from a girl mentioning that Father Aerts had sexually abused her in 1979. Aerts himself forwarded the letter to the Diocese and admitted to committing the abuse while he was associated with St. Thomas and Holy Spirit parishes located in Grand Rapids. The bishop acknowledged that the Diocese had no prior information about the case.
• Father Charles Antekeier was ordained in 1962 to the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Between 1984 and 1985, while he was a pastor at St. James in Grand Rapids, he was alleged to have sexually abused a minor. He was terminated permanently from the ministry in August 2015 and commanded to lead a life of penance and prayer. As per a news report in August 2015, he was alleged to have abused and raped a prepubescent altar boy of St. James in the early 1970s. The father of the victim also alleged that due to the abuse, the boy had become an alcoholic by the time he was 14 years old and had to be incarcerated due to his violent behavior. Only when the boy was in his 40s he sobered down and confessed to his father about Antekeier. However, even after informing the city's DA and the Church, Antekeier was not punished. Antekeier retired in 2000.
• Father Louis Baudone was ordained in 1959 to the Diocese of Grand Rapids. In 1981, Baudone was alleged to have sexually molested two kids in Muskegon County. When the allegations were initiated in 1993, he took retirement, though the privileges were extended till 2002. Other allegations of child molestation were leveled at Baudone in March 2008.
• Father Shamaun Beas was ordained in 1994 to the Diocese of Grand Rapids and was an extern clergyman from Pakistan. In May 2004, he was caught in an internet sting operation where he was soliciting sex from a girl aged 14 years. He was arrested subsequently and imprisoned for 5 to 20 years in March 2006. Before this, he had to take therapy due to questionable behavior. Afterward, he received a sentence of one year for abusing a girl. He also had a guilty plea in another county for additional charges in July 2008, where two sisters alleged him of sexual abuse, and was subsequently sentenced to an additional 16 to 24 months in October 2008 for the same.
• Father Vincent W. Bryce was ordained in 1957 to the  Diocese of Grand Rapids. In April 2002, a man alleged that Bryce had abused him in 1977 when he was a boy. The man had complained to the Dominican Order's Chicago Office. They further informed the Diocese of Grand Rapids. He was immediately removed from his ministerial work and asked to report to the Order's head office. Bryce, it is alleged, admitted to conducting the sexual abuse in another state. Bryce was reportedly living at St. Louis U's Jesuit Hall, though Catholic Directories reveal that he was a resident of St. Dominic Priory in St. Louis between 2003 and 2017. Bryce's name is a part of the Chicago Archdiocese's list dated October 2022. His name is also a part of the IL Attorney General's Report dated March 23, 2023. The list notes one survivor of abuse dating to the early 1970s at Vincent Ferrer, River Forest, IL.

Grand Rapids Diocese Priest Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Are Not Class Action Lawsuits

Many adult survivors wonder if filing priest sexual abuse lawsuits in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese will result in meaningful compensation for their family. Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuits will not be class action lawsuits in which those who file a claim can expect only a small, symbolic settlement. On the contrary, lawyers handling Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawsuits believe persons and family members of persons who suffered sexual abuse by a priest or parish youth leader may be entitled to significant compensation.

Grand Rapids Diocese Priest Sexual Abuse Lawsuits: No Fees Unless We Collect for You

We will represent all persons involved in Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawsuits on a contingency basis, meaning our lawyers never charge legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. For a free no-obligation consultation please fill out our short online contact form and one of our attorneys handling priest sexual abuse lawsuits in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese will contact you to answer any of your questions in a free and confidential consultation.

No-Cost, No-Obligation Grand Rapids Diocese Priest Sex Abuse Lawsuit Case Review If You or a Loved One Suffered from Child Sexual Abuse

OnderLaw, LLC is a St. Louis personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. The Onder Law Firm has represented clients throughout the United States in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation such as Pradaxa, Lexapro and Yasmin/Yaz, where the firm's attorneys held significant leadership roles in the litigation, as well as Actos, DePuy, Risperdal and others, and other law firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation. For more information, visit www.OnderLaw.com or call 1-877-ONDER-LAW.

Grand Rapids Diocese Priest Sex Abuse Lawsuit FAQs

Attorneys Answer Common Grand Rapids Diocese Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Questions

This page contains common Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuit questions and answers that apply to most claims. To discuss the particulars of your case in a confidential setting, contact our firm directly.

Our team of attorneys handling priest sexual abuse lawsuit claims for Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese provides free, no obligation case review. Once we hear from you, one of our experienced lawyers will contact you promptly to provide answers to your questions about filing a Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuit. Consultations are confidential, without obligation, and completely free of charge.

Who can file a priest sexual abuse lawsuit in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese?

Any person or family member of a person who experienced priest sexual abuse in the Grand Rapids Diocese of Michigan may be eligible to file a claim against the Grand Rapids Diocese, the Michigan Catholic Church, or other responsible institution for its failure to protect youth in its care.

How much time do I have to file a Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuit in Michigan?

At this time, new legislation permits many adult survivors of priest sexual abuse in the Grand Rapids Diocese to bring claims forward against priests, Catholic school teachers, camp leaders or other individuals serving the Catholic Church. No matter your age or how long ago the incident took place, you may qualify to file a Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawsuit. For specific time limits for your claim, please fill out the form at right and one of our attorneys will contact you as quickly as possible, usually within the hour.

Does it cost anything for you to review my case?

We will always listen to your circumstances and give you our analysis of your case without any cost or further obligation.

What does it cost to file a priest sexual abuse lawsuit in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese?

We are committed to representing all persons involved in a Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuit on a contingency basis, meaning there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. To access your free, no-obligation consultation, use the online chat feature or contact form on this site. One of our lawyers handling Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawsuit claims will contact you to answer any of your questions.

Even if the abuse occurred long ago, many survivors of Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse may now qualify to file for damages. Contact our attorneys to learn about your legal options.

Aren't these just class action lawsuits where the plaintiff receives very little money?

No. Our firm has reason to believe plaintiffs in Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse lawsuits may be entitled to significant compensation, though the exact figure depends on individual circumstances of each case. The Catholic Church in California allocated $1.2 billion for priest sexual abuse settlements in 2002. In 2007, one priest sexual abuse lawsuit against the Los Angeles Archdiocese resulted in awards of $1.3 million for each survivor.

We're not the type of people who sue; do we really need to file a lawsuit?

If you or a member of your family was sexually abused as a child or teen by a priest, youth leader, or Catholic school teacher in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese, you have likely been dealing with the aftermath of this trauma in one way or another ever since. It is difficult to put a number on the cost of the suffering to a person's emotional health and development, yet we know the harm is considerable. No amount of money can undo the wrong, but we believe winning a priest sexual abuse lawsuit and the compensation that comes with it can help in the healing process in a variety of ways. It is our fervent hope that every Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawsuit we file can serve to make the responsible persons and institutions take note of the trauma and pain that has resulted. When that fails to make a diocese or parish take action to protect the safety of children, we rely on financial pressure to push for meaningful change. In all too many Catholic dioceses, the fear of lawsuits and large settlements is what ultimately pushes the church to make changes to protect the children in its care.

Grand Rapids Diocese Priest Sex Abuse Lawyers

Leading Attorneys for Clergy Sex Abuse Claims in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese

The Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawyers at The Onder Law Firm have a long track record of success in achieving justice on behalf of American families against large and powerful entities such as the Catholic church. As leading national personal injury attorneys, our clergy sexual abuse lawyers serving the Grand Rapids Diocese have worked with countless families through the most difficult time in their lives. Our primary goal is to assist and support survivors as they take this brave step–bringing our considerable resources and expertise to fight on your behalf.

Even if the abuse occurred decades ago, you may be eligible for compensation under Michigan's new law. Contact our Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse attorneys for a free consultation.

If you are a survivor of priest sexual abuse in the Grand Rapids Diocese of Michigan, we want you to know first and foremost that what happened to you was not your fault. It is our mission to seek justice on behalf of you and others like you, and to help you access the compensation you need and deserve. Our Grand Rapids Diocese priest sex abuse attorneys believe persons and family members of persons who were sexually abused by clergy members may be eligible for real compensation for the resulting pain and suffering by filing a claim against the Grand Rapids Diocese.

The State of Michigan has newly expanded rights for survivors of child sexual abuse to report incidents later in life. On average, survivors of child sexual abuse do not report the harm until the age of 52, often long after the statue of limitations has expired. The new laws for filing Michigan priest sex abuse lawsuits expand survivors' rights to report decades later. For too long, reporting priest sexual abuse has been connected with intense shame and stigma, and the Catholic Church has a long history of coverup, relocating priests to avoid scandal only to result in more abuse. That era is over, and many adult survivors are stepping up to file priest sex abuse lawsuits in Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese and others. Over 800 survivors made complaints to the Attorney General, and more than 450 priests have been accused of priest sexual abuse in Michigan's seven dioceses, including the Grand Rapids Diocese.

Our attorneys handling priest sex abuse lawsuits for Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese are committed to holding the Catholic Church accountable for failing to protect the children in its care over decades--no matter how complex the case.

We believe that survivors must be in charge of decision-making when it comes to whether or not to file a Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawsuit. Some survivors say it is cathartic to finally report harmful incidents in their past and seek justice through legal action. When large numbers of survivors speak out and demand accountability from Michigan's Grand Rapids Diocese, it sends a strong message that this type of abuse will not be tolerated in the Grand Rapids Diocese ever again.

If you would like to learn more about filing a claim with our priest sexual abuse attorney team serving the Grand Rapids Diocese of Michigan, contact our firm for a free consultation. The Onder Law Firm's priest sexual abuse attorneys for Grand Rapids Diocese claims provide experienced legal representation without fee unless they collect for their clients.

No Fees Unless We Collect for You - Our Grand Rapids Diocese Clergy Sex Abuse Lawyers Represent Clients on a Contingency Basis

We will represent all persons involved in a Grand Rapids Diocese priest sexual abuse lawsuit on a contingency basis, meaning there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. Anyone who suffered from priest sexual abuse--or is a family member of such a person--is eligible to receive a free, no-obligation case review from our attorneys. Simply contact our firm through the online contact form or the chat feature and one of our Michigan Catholic clergy lawyers serving the Grand Rapids Diocese will contact you promptly to discuss your case.

The Onder Law Firm

OnderLaw, LLC is a St. Louis personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. The Onder Law Firm has represented clients throughout the United States in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation such as Pradaxa, Lexapro and Yasmin/Yaz, where the firm's attorneys held significant leadership roles in the litigation, as well as Actos, DePuy, Risperdal and others, and other law firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation. For more information, visit www.OnderLaw.com or call 1-877-ONDER-LAW.