Girard Sharp LLP Announces Investigation into Reported Sexual Abuse Within Southern Baptist Church

Girard Sharp LLP, a class action law firm that has served as lead counsel in cases generating over $250 million in recoveries for victims of sexual abuse in the past five years, announces that it is accepting inquiries from victims of sexual abuse alleged to have occurred within the Southern Baptist Convention of Churches (“SBC”).

If you or a loved one were a survivor of abuse within the Southern Baptist Convention of Churches and wish to discuss your rights, click here to read more about Girard Sharp’s investigation and provide information about your experience. All consultations are free of charge and confidential. You can also directly contact attorney Adam Polk of Girard Sharp by calling (415) 981-4800 or via email at apolk@girardsharp.com to inquire about your legal rights.

Details of the Investigation: The Washington Post reported on May 22, 2022 that leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention of Churches released a 300-page report following an independent, third-party investigation that revealed decades of sexual abuse within the church. The report also found that SBC leaders secretly kept an internal list of sex offenders in order to avoid the possibility of getting sued.

According to the Post, “[w]hile stories of abuse were minimized, and survivors were ignored or even vilified, revelations came to light in recent years that some senior SBC leaders had protected or even supported alleged abusers.” The article also states that “[s]ex abuse survivors, many of whom have been sharing their stories for years, anticipated Sunday’s release would confirm the facts around many of the stories they have already shared, but many were still surprised to see the pattern of coverups by the highest levels of leadership.”

If you are a survivor of sexual abuse within the SBC, you may have a legal claim. Speak to an attorney about your rights.

ABOUT GIRARD SHARP LLP: Girard Sharp has substantial experience in complex litigation on behalf of sexual abuse survivors. Our Sexual Abuse and Women’s Advocacy attorneys have a track record of successfully taking on large institutions. We believe that people who were subjected to this kind of abuse deserve to have their cases heard, to be fairly compensated, and to have tenacious and ethical legal representation.

Our attorneys have built a strong track record of recovering compensation for victims of sexual abuse and misconduct, while remaining sensitive to client confidentiality and concerns at all times. We served as co-lead counsel in a class action against the University of Southern California and campus gynecologist George Tyndall on behalf of women who were sexually abused by Tyndall during his long tenure at USC. The settlement established a $215 million fund and gave every survivor a choice in how to participate, as well as requiring USC to adopt and implement procedures for identification, prevention and reporting of sexual and racial misconduct. Our lawyers also filed a class action lawsuit against UCLA on behalf of women treated by UCLA gynecologist James Heaps, who was charged with sexual battery and exploitation of patients while working as a staff gynecologist at UCLA, a position he held for almost thirty years. The UC Regents agreed to resolve the claims for $73 million, plus injunctive relief measures similar to those obtained in the USC case. Both the USC and UCLA sexual abuse settlements were approved as fair, adequate and reasonable by federal courts.

Girard Sharp has been distinguished as a Tier 1 law firm for plaintiffs’ class action litigation in the “Best Law Firms” list in the survey published in U.S. News & World Report’s Money Issue. Law360 named Girard Sharp as one of its Product Liability Groups of the Year for 2021. In 2020, Girard Sharp was honored with the Daily Journal’s “Top Boutiques in California” award. The National Law Journal (NLJ) also has named Girard Sharp to its elite “Plaintiffs’ Hot List,” a selection of top U.S. plaintiffs’ firms recognized for wins in high-profile cases.

Attorney advertising.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220606005866/en/