Lane Brown LLC Managing Partner Mark Brown and attorney Kellie Snyder recently settled a child sexual abuse case against The Carmelites and Mt. Carmel High School for $2,900,000.00. Mt. Carmel High School is owned and operated by The Carmelites.
The Carmelites are a Roman Catholic religious order, and their national office is located in Darien, IL. Lane Brown’s client was a minor in the early-mid 1980s when he was a student at Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago.
Mark Brown said, “Carmelite Brother, Robert “Bob” Murphy, was our client’s teacher when he sexually abused him numerous times over several years on school property. Mt. Carmel hired Brother Bob Murphy despite Murphy having been credibly accused of sexual misconduct with a minor child in the early 1970’s when he was working within the Diocese of Savannah (Georgia).”
The firm elaborated that there are several reasons why a case had not been brought against the associated parties in the intervening decades, the foremost of which being that the trauma had likely caused their client to repress his memories of the abuse for all this time (it is known that trauma can reemerge after years of repression). Approximately 30 years after the fact, the client experienced a sizable negative impact on his peace of mind and quality of life as a result of recollecting the memories of his ordeal. See more here: https://www.lanebrownlaw.com/chicago-sexual-abuse-lawyer/.
At the time the client found himself dealing with these resurfaced memories, he was living outside Illinois. According to the firm, he contacted Lane Brown in serious distress as he had been suffering with his recovered memories for years since they returned. Leaping to his aid, the firm’s first course of action was to locate an experienced child sexual abuse therapist near him in order to begin immediate treatment. When the client was settled in and able to focus on his recovery, the firm set their sights on building a case on his behalf.
Notably, Brother Bob Murphy remains a Carmelite Brother today. However, he was removed from ministry in the early 2000s after his abuse of children came to light again.
“Our client is a brave individual. Despite his feelings of being broken by this pedophile, he stood up against The Carmelites to call out their complicit and enabling behavior in allowing Brother Bob Murphy to teach and be around children for years after learning of his horrific and disgusting criminal behavior. We are proud to have represented him,” said Brown.
The firm stands ready to defend any client who was the victim of child sexual abuse, and they say this case is an excellent example that justice and compensation can still be pursued even years after the incident(s) in question. It is important to understand that the consequences of the abuse can follow victims for even longer, even a lifetime, so it is in a victim’s best interests to seek full legal recourse, and the firm will do everything in their power to help.
Settlements, for instance, should reflect the damage caused to the victim, providing a manner of compensation for their emotional difficulties, damage, injuries and trauma. While his case has reached a successful conclusion, Lane Brown’s client continues treatment for his suffering to this day. The settlement will enable him to continue his recovery with the aid of a professional. Long-term treatment is often necessary for sexual abuse survivors, which is another reason it is recommended that they pursue compensation with an experienced legal representative by their side.
Lane Brown adds that a formal civil lawsuit is based on the harm and injuries done to the victim, as opposed to the crime that was committed. A civil suit can be built independently of a criminal trial, and it is often the main vehicle through which a sexual abuse survivor can obtain the compensation they deserve.
Residents throughout and outside of Illinois are welcome to contact the Chicago law firm today to request a free, confidential consultation. The firm will explore all available legal options and provide recommendations regarding the client’s next steps, should they intend to move forward. More information can be found here: https://goo.gl/maps/AK1vnxZd3Tq.
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For more information about Lane Brown, LLC, contact the company here:
Lane Brown, LLC
Mark Brown
(312) 332-1400
markbrown@lanebrownlaw.com
230 W Monroe St
Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60606
