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Free CASE REVIEWS
1 800 686 9921
Father James Randal Gillette was a priest who worked in multiple dioceses across the United States and internationally, including the Archdioceses of Boston, Newark, and New York, as well as the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He also served at St. Patrick’s Parish in Mexico City from 1978 to 1987 and worked in Honduras during his ministry. Gillette’s personnel file accused him of sexually assaulting a boy at St. Gabriel’s Parish in Brighton in 1972.
A civil suit filed in 2014 claimed Gillette sexually abused a boy between the ages of 9 and 13; that case was ultimately settled. Gillette was subsequently included on a 2016 compilation of accused clerics named in civil claims resulting in settlements or arbitration awards. On January 2, 2020, Gillette pleaded guilty under a plea deal to charges of committing unnatural acts with a child under age 16 between 1972 and 1975. He was sentenced to five years of probation with GPS monitoring, required to register as a sex offender, and ordered to undergo treatment.
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.
The case of Father James Randal Gillette demonstrates that justice remains available to survivors even when decades have passed since the abuse occurred. Gillette’s 2020 guilty plea, entered approximately 45 years after the abuse, shows that law enforcement and prosecutors continue to take clergy abuse seriously and that criminal accountability remains possible. For survivors, seeing their abuser face criminal consequences can provide powerful validation.
Civil litigation has also played a significant role in efforts to hold Gillette accountable. The 2014 settlement demonstrates that the civil justice system may offer survivors an important pathway to acknowledgment and compensation. Survivors who believe they may have a civil claim against Gillette or the institutions responsible for supervising him should contact Herman Law to discuss their legal options.
For survivors of Gillette’s sexual abuse, the combination of criminal and civil accountability has offered meaningful forms of recognition and redress. Criminal proceedings address the wrongs committed against society and, depending on the charges and outcome, may result in incarceration, probation, sex offender registration, or other penalties. Civil litigation may provide survivors with compensation for the harm they suffered. Herman Law is committed to helping survivors explore every available avenue toward accountability.
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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