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1 800 686 9921
Free CASE REVIEWS
1 800 686 9921
Monsignor James J. Haddad served in the Archdiocese of Boston and held a series of pastoral and institutional assignments over the course of his priesthood. Allegations against Haddad relate to the sexual abuse of a male minor, ages 13 to 14, on multiple occasions between 1976 and 1977, while he was assigned to St. Eulalia’s Church in Winchester. The sexual abuse is reported to have occurred repeatedly over this period.
A civil lawsuit addressing allegations of sexual abuse by Haddad was settled in June 2021. Haddad passed away in 2007, before this civil matter was resolved — a circumstance that underscores the lengths to which survivors may go to seek accountability, even decades after the abuse occurred and after the alleged perpetrator’s death. The civil settlement reflects the documented history of these allegations. While settlements do not constitute admissions of liability, they represent a meaningful step in acknowledging survivors’ experiences and the importance of institutional accountability.
With decades of dedicated advocacy, we have held abusers and institutions accountable, helping survivors secure justice and the resources to move forward.
For over two decades, we have focused solely on advocating for survivors, combining legal skill with compassion to guide them toward justice and healing.
We are honored to have guided thousands of survivors through the legal process, offering support, advocacy, and the resources they need to reclaim their lives.
Survivors who experienced sexual abuse by Monsignor James J. Haddad may face the dual challenge of pursuing accountability for a deceased priest while addressing the broader responsibility of the institution that supervised him. Civil litigation provides a forum for examining failures of diocesan leadership and whether adequate steps were taken to protect minors in their care. Massachusetts law may allow claims against religious institutions for negligent supervision, failure to protect minors, and related failures — including the continued assignment of clergy to positions of trust despite prior complaints or credible concerns. In cases like Haddad’s, civil proceedings may examine the Archdiocese’s broader practices around assignment decisions, complaint handling, and institutional oversight.
Civil proceedings also serve a critical role in validating survivor experiences. Access to internal documents and the settlement process can confirm the harm endured and reveal systemic failures, while compensation may fund therapeutic care, counseling, and long-term recovery. The legal process empowers survivors to confront not only the individual offender but the broader structures that may have allowed abuse to continue unchecked.
By pursuing civil remedies, survivors assert their voice, affirm their experiences, and may help ensure that religious institutions implement meaningful policies to prevent future abuse. Civil accountability serves both a deeply personal and a broader societal purpose. Even when the abuser has passed, a survivor’s pursuit of justice carries profound significance for healing, public acknowledgment, and institutional reform.
Every survivor deserves compassion and acknowledgment. This video explains how civil law empowers individuals harmed by clergy abuse to pursue accountability and closure. Justice extends beyond courtrooms; it allows survivors to reclaim their voice and aids them on their healing journey. Survivors across Massachusetts continue proving that truth carries strength and healing begins with being heard.
Our experienced and compassionate team of attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and support staff have extensive training in working with sexual abuse victims.
These cases are complex; however, our team are experts in these types of cases and will diligently ensure our clients are compensated for full and fair value. We always do our best to help our clients heal by giving them a voice
and helping them seek a measure of justice.
Massachusetts Disclaimer:Herman Law has a multistate practice representing victims of sexual abuse in civil cases. A Herman Law attorney is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts. Each case is different, and results in prior cases do not assure a similar outcome in future cases. If there is no recovery, no fees or expenses will be charged. Attorney Advertising by Jenny Rossman.
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