Holding the Diocese of Erie Accountable for Clergy Abuse
Sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, teacher, or anyone connected to the Diocese of Erie can open the door to a civil claim against the institution itself, not just the person responsible. This is separate from any criminal case: you don’t need a police report, a conviction, or to have ever told anyone. None of it was your fault.
In much of rural northwestern Pennsylvania, spanning thirteen counties, the parish or Catholic school wasn’t just a building; it was where the community gathered. A civil claim examines the decisions the diocese made across that entire footprint.
Your Deadline to File: It May Be Closer Than You Think
Pennsylvania’s civil claim deadlines have changed significantly in recent years. How much time you have depends on your specific circumstances, including your age when the abuse occurred. In short, there is no single answer, and the only way to know where you stand is to ask. If the abuse happened years ago, the window may still be open, but it will not stay open indefinitely. Reach out to Ashley DiLiberto for a clear, no-obligation answer about your deadline before that choice quietly slips away.What Reaching Out Actually Looks Like
When you are ready, a confidential review with Ashley DiLiberto is straightforward:- You share only what you are comfortable sharing. There is no pressure to tell the full story on the first call, just enough for Ashley to understand your situation.
- Ashley will tell you honestly, in plain language, whether the diocese and others involved can be held accountable and what your realistic options are.
- If you decide to move forward, there is no cost to you unless we win.
What You Can Recover in a Civil Clergy Abuse Case
For many survivors, a case is first and foremost about accountability, forcing an institution to change so no one else is harmed the same way. A civil claim can also seek real financial recovery: the cost of therapy and future counseling, medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and the broader impact the abuse has had on your relationships, your work, and your life. Past results do not guarantee a future outcome; every case is evaluated on its own facts.Your Attorney: Ashley B. DiLiberto
Ashley B. DiLiberto has built her practice around one consistent commitment: representing people who were failed not just by an individual, but by the institutions that were supposed to protect them. She understands how organizations like a diocese can systemically enable abuse and how to hold them accountable for it. As a Partner at Messa & Associates, P.C., in Philadelphia, she leads the firm’s national Mass Tort Litigation Team and has represented survivors in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy, tied to a $2.46 billion settlement, involving large-scale institutional abuse. She has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Rising Star” every year since 2019. (PA Attorney ID 323701, admitted 2017.) Past results do not guarantee a future outcome.Frequently asked questions
Was the Diocese of Erie in the 2018 grand jury report?
Yes. Erie was one of the six dioceses examined in the August 2018 statewide grand jury report. Separately, the diocese published its own list of credibly accused individuals that grew to about 64 names by mid-2018.
What if I was abused in a small Erie-diocese parish or Catholic school?
You may still have a claim. Across the thirteen northwestern-PA counties the diocese covers, abuse connected to any parish, school, or ministry can implicate the institution's responsibility.
Where would a Diocese of Erie case be filed?
Generally in the county Court of Common Pleas where the abuse occurred — for the see city, the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County. Ashley DiLiberto handles the venue analysis.
Do I need a criminal case or to have reported it?
No. A civil claim is independent of the criminal system and can proceed whether or not anyone was charged and whether or not you ever reported.
Can I still sue if the priest has died?
Often, yes. The claim can focus on the diocese's own negligence — supervision, reassignment, concealment — so it may proceed even after the individual's death.
Will my identity be protected?
Your first conversation is confidential and protecting your privacy is a priority. Many clergy-abuse cases carry strong confidentiality protections.
Does it cost anything to talk to a lawyer?
No. The consultation is free and confidential, and cases are handled on contingency — no fee unless we win.
Serving sexual abuse survivors across Pennsylvania
Ashley DiLiberto represents survivors statewide. Explore help in your area:
