Can You Sue the Diocese of Harrisburg for Clergy Abuse?
If you were sexually abused by a priest, deacon, teacher, or other person connected to the Diocese of Harrisburg, a civil claim may let you hold the institution itself accountable, not only the individual who harmed you. The diocese covers fifteen counties of central Pennsylvania, stretching from the state capital across the Susquehanna Valley, and a civil claim looks at the institution’s decisions across that entire region. This process is entirely separate from the criminal system; you do not need a prior report, a conviction, or any prior disclosure to begin. What happened was never your fault.Suing the Diocese, Not Just the Individual
A civil claim goes further than providing compensation for survivors; it tests whether the diocese negligently supervised or retained the person who harmed you, whether it reassigned him rather than removing him, and whether it failed to report what it knew to civil authorities. That is where institutional responsibility is actually established, and it is the core of what a civil case against the Diocese of Harrisburg can pursue.Your Deadline to File: Don’t Wait
Recently, Pennsylvania’s deadlines for filing a civil claim have changed, and how much time you have depends on your age when the abuse occurred and other circumstances, which is why a single answer does not fit every survivor’s situation. If the abuse happened years ago, there is a good chance the window to file is still open, but it will not stay open forever. Call Ashley DiLiberto for a clear, no-obligation answer about your specific deadline so you can make that decision on your own terms.Starting the Process: Privately and on Your Terms
When you are ready, here is what a confidential review with Ashley DiLiberto looks like:- You share only what you are comfortable sharing: this is a conversation, not an interrogation, and there is no pressure or judgment.
- Ashley explains, in plain language, whether the diocese and those involved can be held accountable, and what your options are.
- If we move forward, there is no cost to you unless we win.
What a Civil Claim Can Recover
For many survivors, a case is first and foremost about accountability. It is also about real financial recovery. A civil claim can seek compensation for counseling and future therapy costs, medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and the broader impact the abuse has had on your life. Past results do not guarantee a future outcome; every case is evaluated on its own facts.Know Your Attorney: Ashley B. DiLiberto
Ashley B. DiLiberto has spent her career representing survivors of institutional abuse, representing people who were failed not just by one person, but by the organizations that were supposed to protect them. She has represented survivors in the Boy Scouts of America cases tied to a $2.46 billion settlement, giving her direct experience with exactly the kind of large-scale institutional abuse that unfolded inside Pennsylvania’s dioceses. As a Partner at Messa & Associates, P.C., in Philadelphia, Ashley leads the firm’s national Mass Tort Litigation Team. She has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Rising Star” every year since 2019 and is available for free, confidential consultations around the clock. (PA Attorney ID 323701, admitted 2017.) Past results do not guarantee a future outcome.Frequently asked questions
Was the Diocese of Harrisburg in the 2018 grand jury report?
Yes. Harrisburg was one of the six dioceses examined in the August 2018 statewide grand jury report. Separately, the diocese released its own list of 71 names shortly beforehand. You do not need to appear in either to bring a claim.
Which counties does a Diocese of Harrisburg case cover?
The diocese spans fifteen counties across central Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna Valley. Abuse tied to a parish, school, or ministry anywhere in that footprint can implicate the institution.
Where would a Harrisburg diocese 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 Dauphin County in Harrisburg. 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 reported.
Can I still sue if the priest has died?
Often, yes. A 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:
