WBRZ News Investigative Unit: Dozens of new lawsuits filed against Diocese of Baton Rouge alleging sex abuse
Reported by Letitia Walker and Sarah Gray Barr
Louisiana legislation enables adults subjected to childhood sexual assault in Louisiana to file lawsuits against their perpetrators and the churches, schools, youth athletic leagues, medical facilities, and other organizations that enabled the wrongdoing. Since the initial legislative “lookback window” deadline expired in June 2024, 29 additional lawsuits have been submitted to the 19th Judicial District Court by individuals alleging sexual abuse by Baton Rouge Diocese Catholic Church clergy. The new deadline for lawsuits for childhood sexual abuse is June 14, 2027.
These legal filings identify 20 Diocese of Baton Rouge clergy members as perpetrators of sexual abuse, including 8 more than listed on the original credibly accused list. Court documents detail accounts of abuse involving victims as young as five years old, with the incidents spanning three decades from 1963 to 1993.
“The Lamothe Law Firm is … representing several victims from several different churches.”
“‘Fortunately, in Louisiana, the plaintiff’s testimony alone is enough to prove a case, and that’s usually the case in sexual assault cases to begin with because they happen behind closed doors,’ Attorney Julien Lamothe said. There’s one publicly known jury award that we recently secured back in June 2024. The jury awarded $2.4 million in that case. We hope that that kind of serves as a bellwether in most of these cases.'”
If you or someone you love was abused as a child within the Lafayette or Baton Rouge Dioceses or anywhere else in Louisiana, contact Lamothe Law Firm now for a confidential consultation. Because of our experience with these cases, we understand the need for sensitivity and compassion.
