• Volunteers or youth group leaders
• Other members who were shielded from accountability

Abuse may occur in private homes, Kingdom Halls, during religious study, or on congregation-sponsored outings. In many cases, survivors report that church elders failed to report allegations to authorities, encouraged silence, or punished the victim instead of the abuser.

The abuse can range from sexual assault or molestation to grooming by an elder or older congregation member, or coerced sexual activity disguised as “spiritual guidance.” Unfortunately, these behaviors are often followed by institutional cover-ups or retaliation after reporting them. Survivors may endure forced silence or “disfellowshipping” (excommunication) for disclosing the abuse. 

What Is the Legal Basis for Your Sexual Abuse Claim?

Sexual abuse claims against religious institutions like Jehovah’s Witnesses are based on several legal theories.

• Negligence and institutional liability: Failure to protect, including failure to conduct adequate background checks, failure to supervise, failure to warn, and placing abusers in positions of trust.
• Negligent hiring/retention: The organization knew or should have known about the abuser’s propensity for abuse but failed to remove them from positions of contact with children or vulnerable adults.
• Vicarious liability: If the abuser was acting within the scope of their duties as an elder or in another official organizational capacity when the abuse occurred, the organization itself could be held liable for their actions.
• Cover-up and concealment: This involves the alleged practice of resolving abuse allegations internally rather than reporting them to law enforcement.
• Intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress and trauma: Questioning victims by committees of male elders, shunning victims, and excommunicating them, or failing to act.

Maine has expanded its statute of limitations for civil sexual abuse cases, allowing many survivors to come forward even decades later.

Potential Compensation for Sexual Abuse Survivors

Through a civil sexual abuse claim, you may be entitled to:

• Emotional distress and psychological damages
• Therapy and mental health treatment costs
• Lost income or reduced earning ability
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages, in cases of egregious misconduct

What Berman & Simmons Can Do for You

We understand how difficult it is to come forward after sexual abuse, especially when it occurs within a religious community. When you choose us to represent you, we take your trust seriously. Our approach is trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and built on more than a century of legal excellence.

We begin by listening. Your story is safe with us. We meet with you confidentially to understand what happened, explain your legal rights, and determine your options. 

In viable claims, our team conducts a thorough investigation, which may include gathering records and documents, interviewing witnesses or other survivors, and identifying patterns of abuse or cover-ups. We handle the process with discretion and care, protecting your privacy.

We pursue claims not only against individual abusers but also against congregations that failed to act, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, if it contributed to the abuse or concealed it, and other entities that may have enabled or ignored the misconduct. 

Our attorneys draw on decades of trial experience to build a powerful case. We work with medical experts, trauma specialists, and investigators to fully demonstrate the impact of the abuse, both emotional and financial.

Whether through negotiation, settlement, or trial, we thoroughly prepare to protect your rights. Our firm has recovered over $1.5 billion for clients; we hold institutions accountable through strategic and aggressive advocacy. 

Call (207) 417-4199 or reach us online for a free case review with a Maine attorney for Jehovah’s Witness sexual abuse claims today.