Fort Lauderdale Church & Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers

In Fort Lauderdale, the most common types of clergy and church sexual abuse involve minors in youth programs, altar service, or Sunday school, as well as adults seeking counseling, guidance, or confession. Clergy may exploit their authority through grooming, manipulation, or coercion, often committing abuse in private settings such as church offices, classrooms, rectories, or during church-sponsored trips. This abuse frequently causes long-lasting emotional, psychological, and spiritual trauma.

If you or someone you love is a survivor, a Fort Lauderdale church & clergy sexual abuse lawyer at Horowitz Law can help. We begin by listening to your story with compassion and confidentiality, then investigate the abuse, collect evidence, and identify the institution’s role in enabling or concealing misconduct. Our team aggressively pursues compensation for medical expenses, therapy, lost income, emotional suffering, and, when applicable, punitive damages. We handle all communication with the church and insurance companies, ensuring your rights are protected while guiding you through every step of the legal process.

Why Select Our Church & Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers to Handle Your Case?

Choosing the right legal team is critical when pursuing a church or clergy sexual abuse case in Fort Lauderdale, and Horowitz Law offers the experience, dedication, and support survivors need. Our attorneys are deeply compassionate, understanding the emotional and psychological toll such abuse can take on survivors and their families. We are committed to holding institutions and abusers accountable, ensuring every case receives the attention and advocacy it deserves.

With decades of experience handling sexual abuse cases both in Florida and across the country, our team has successfully achieved favorable settlements and litigated complex matters in court. We are fully prepared to fight for your rights, whether negotiating with insurance companies, challenging negligent institutions, or presenting your case to a jury.

At Horowitz Law, we take a personalized approach, carefully investigating each claim and working tirelessly to build the strongest case possible. Our sex abuse attorneys focus on maximizing both justice and compensation for survivors, covering medical care, therapy, lost income, emotional suffering, and punitive damages when applicable. By choosing our firm, you gain skilled legal representation and a team that stands beside you with unwavering support and determination throughout every step of your case.

You can see our most recent client reviews and case testimonials on this site. Our office is conveniently located at 110 East Broward Boulevard, Suite 1530, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.

Key Takeaways: Church & Clergy Sexual Abuse in Fort Lauderdale

• Clergy and church sexual abuse can affect both minors and adults. Abuse often occurs in private church spaces, classrooms, offices, rectories, or during church-sponsored trips or events.
• Survivors may experience severe physical, emotional, and psychological injuries, including chronic health issues, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and damaged personal or spiritual relationships.
• Churches and religious institutions are sometimes negligent or complicit, failing to report abuse, transferring clergy accused of misconduct, or covering up complaints, which can increase liability in civil claims.
• Survivors of abuse in Fort Lauderdale are entitled to financial compensation, including medical expenses, therapy, lost income, emotional distress damages, and, in some cases, punitive damages against the institution or perpetrator.
• Horowitz Law has a team of experienced and compassionate attorneys dedicated to helping survivors pursue justice. Our lawyers handle all aspects of the legal process, including investigating claims, gathering evidence, negotiating with insurers, and taking cases to trial if necessary.
• Our attorneys are committed to protecting your rights and maximizing the compensation and justice you deserve. By letting our team manage the legal process, survivors can focus on healing while knowing their case is in capable hands.
• Early action is critical. Survivors should preserve evidence, report abuse to authorities, and contact experienced legal counsel promptly to protect their rights and build a strong case.

How Much is my Fort Lauderdale Church & Clergy Sexual Abuse Case Worth?

The value of a Fort Lauderdale church or clergy sexual abuse case depends on several key factors. Courts and insurance companies consider the severity of the abuse, the emotional and psychological trauma endured, the long-term impact on your quality of life, and any financial losses you suffered. Survivors who experience ongoing therapy needs, loss of income, or permanent emotional harm generally receive higher compensation. Each case is unique, and the value often increases when strong evidence supports your claim.

Economic Damages

Economic damages compensate for the measurable financial impact of the abuse. These may include medical expenses for hospital visits, therapy, or counseling, as well as lost income if the trauma affected your ability to work. In some cases, survivors may also recover the cost of future medical treatment or lost earning potential if the psychological effects prevent long-term employment.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages account for the pain, suffering, and emotional distress caused by the abuse. Survivors often endure severe anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and damaged personal relationships. Florida law allows survivors to recover compensation for these intangible losses, which often represent a significant portion of the case’s value.

Punitive Damages

In cases involving intentional misconduct or gross institutional negligence, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the church or clergy member for their actions and deter similar behavior in the future. These damages are not tied to your financial losses but are based on the severity of the wrongdoing.

Most Common Locations for Church & Clergy Sexual Abuse in Fort Lauderdale

Reports of church and clergy sexual abuse in Fort Lauderdale have surfaced in both local news coverage and court filings involving well-known churches and smaller parish communities. Public records and media reports have included allegations connected to Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, along with criminal prosecutions of priests in Broward County courts. These accounts reveal that such abuse has been reported in various parts of the city and within different types of religious institutions.

Survivors and investigators have identified certain locations within churches where abuse most often occurred. These include sanctuaries after services, unlocked classrooms used for Sunday school, private church offices or rectories, fellowship halls following events, and restrooms within the facility. These settings often provided opportunities for isolation and control, making it easier for perpetrators to act without immediate detection.

Types of Church & Clergy Sexual Abuse in Fort Lauderdale

Clergy and church sexual abuse in Fort Lauderdale often takes several forms, depending on the relationship between the perpetrator and the survivor. These cases involve severe violations of trust and power, especially when religious leaders exploit their authority over parishioners, children, or vulnerable adults seeking spiritual guidance.

• Abuse Involving Minors – One of the most common types of church sexual abuse involves minors who participate in youth ministries, altar service, Sunday school, or church-sponsored trips. 
• Abuse of Adult Parishioners – Adults seeking comfort, counseling, or confession may also become survivors.
• Institutional Negligence and Cover-Ups – In many Fort Lauderdale cases, institutions have been accused of ignoring complaints or moving accused clergy to different parishes rather than reporting them.

Injuries Resulting from Sexual Abuse by Church or Clergy Members in Fort Lauderdale

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Fort Lauderdale often experience a combination of physical, mental, and emotional injuries that can last for years or even a lifetime. These injuries go far beyond the initial act of abuse and often affect every aspect of a survivor’s personal, social, and spiritual life.

Physical injuries may include pain, bruising, or other trauma resulting from sexual contact, particularly in cases involving minors or vulnerable adults. Some survivors also suffer long-term health complications, including sexually transmitted infections or reproductive damage. Even after physical wounds heal, survivors may struggle with chronic stress-related conditions, insomnia, fatigue, or other symptoms linked to the body’s prolonged state of fear and anxiety.

The psychological impact of clergy sexual abuse is often devastating. Survivors frequently develop post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Many also experience flashbacks, panic attacks, or nightmares that interfere with their ability to function in daily life. The betrayal of trust by a religious authority figure can also cause deep spiritual and identity conflicts, leaving survivors questioning their faith or self-worth.

Emotionally, survivors often suffer from feelings of shame, guilt, and isolation. Relationships with family, friends, and partners may become strained as they struggle to express or process their trauma.

Pursuing Financial Compensation and Justice for Church & Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors in Fort Lauderdale 

At Horowitz Law, our skilled legal team is committed to helping survivors of clergy and church sexual abuse in Fort Lauderdale obtain the justice and compensation they deserve. We understand the deep pain, trauma, and betrayal that accompany these experiences, especially when the abuse is committed by trusted religious leaders or covered up by church institutions. Our mission is to hold these individuals and organizations fully accountable for the harm they have caused.

When you contact our firm, our attorneys begin by listening to your story with compassion and confidentiality. We carefully investigate the circumstances of your abuse, gathering critical evidence such as church records, internal correspondence, prior complaints, and witness statements. Our legal team works to prove that the church or religious organization was negligent in hiring, supervising, or retaining clergy members who were known or suspected of misconduct.

We aggressively pursue every form of compensation available under Florida law, including damages for medical treatment, therapy costs, emotional distress, and lost income. In cases involving intentional institutional concealment or gross negligence, we also seek punitive damages to punish the wrongdoing and deter similar conduct in the future. Throughout the process, we handle all communication with the church, its attorneys, and insurance companies—so you can focus on healing.

Our experienced trial lawyers are fully prepared to present your case in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached. We build compelling arguments that highlight both the emotional and financial toll of the abuse, as well as the institution’s responsibility in allowing it to occur. At Horowitz Law, we stand by your side every step of the way, fighting tirelessly to secure the justice and financial recovery you deserve after enduring clergy or church sexual abuse in Fort Lauderdale.

Most Important Steps to Take if You or a Loved One is a Survivor of Church or Clergy Sexual Abuse in Fort Lauderdale 

If you or someone you love is a survivor of clergy or church sexual abuse in Fort Lauderdale, it is crucial to take immediate and informed action to protect your rights and begin the path toward healing and justice.

• The first step is to seek immediate medical care if necessary and obtain professional counseling from a licensed therapist experienced in trauma and sexual abuse recovery.
• Next, report the abuse to local law enforcement so that a criminal investigation can begin. Preserving evidence—such as text messages, letters, photos, or journal entries—can strengthen your case later. Documenting your experiences and any physical or emotional effects as soon as possible is important, while details remain clear.
• Contact Horowitz Law to speak with our experienced Fort Lauderdale church and clergy sexual abuse attorneys. Our legal team will listen with compassion, explain your legal options, and pursue justice against both the abuser and any institution that allowed the abuse to happen. We will handle all communication with the church and insurance representatives, giving you the support, protection, and advocacy you need during this deeply personal and challenging time.

Frequently Asked Questions – Church and Clergy Sexual Abuse in Fort Lauderdale

Consult a Fort Lauderdale Church & Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorney Today 

If you or someone you love is a survivor of church or clergy sexual abuse, the compassionate legal team at Horowitz Law is ready to pursue your case aggressively. Our attorneys will immediately begin gathering evidence, taking the necessary legal steps, and pursuing the financial compensation and justice you need.

For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a knowledgeable Fort Lauderdale sexual abuse lawyer, please call us at (954) 641-2100 or contact us online right away.