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1 800 686 9921
Father W. James Nyhan served as a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston for many years before allegations of sexual abuse emerged. Reports of abuse were brought to the archdiocese in 1994 and again in 1997, but he was not removed from ministry until 2002.
In November 2003, Nyhan was arrested in Charleston, South Carolina, on charges of sexually abusing minors between 1979 and 1980. He pleaded guilty on April 25, 2006, to three counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. He was sentenced to thirty years — ten years on each count — but the court suspended the sentence in favor of five years of probation. A civil lawsuit regarding the abuse was resolved through mediation in August 2006.
In March 2007, Nyhan was defrocked by the Vatican, officially dismissed from the clerical state. His name was included on the Archdiocese of Boston’s publicly released list of accused clergy in August 2011, and on the Diocese of Charleston’s list of clergy with credible allegations of child sexual misconduct, published in March 2019. Additional allegations came to light in February 2022, when a lawsuit was filed on behalf of a woman who alleged Nyhan had abused her when she was approximately 11 years old, in 1980, while he was assigned to St. Brendan Parish in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
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 often carry the emotional and psychological consequences of abuse for many years before finding the strength to come forward. Civil litigation offers survivors a path toward accountability and recognition. In cases involving clergy abuse, legal proceedings frequently examine not only the conduct of the individual priest but also the actions of the religious institutions responsible for supervising and assigning clergy. Questions may arise about how complaints were handled, whether earlier reports were adequately investigated, and whether appropriate steps were taken to protect minors.
Massachusetts law recognizes the unique circumstances surrounding childhood sexual abuse and the reasons many survivors delay reporting. Civil action may allow survivors to seek financial compensation and public acknowledgment of the harm they experienced.
For many survivors, pursuing justice represents an opportunity to ensure that their experiences are formally recognized. Holding institutions accountable may also help promote transparency and encourage stronger protections for children within religious organizations and other community institutions.
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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