Can You Sue the Diocese of Pittsburgh for Clergy Abuse?
If you were sexually abused by a priest, deacon, teacher, or anyone else connected to the Diocese of Pittsburgh, a civil claim may let you hold the institution itself accountable, not only the individual who caused the harm. This is separate from the criminal system. You do not need a prior report, a conviction, or any prior disclosure to begin. The Diocese covers six counties of southwestern Pennsylvania: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington. A civil claim examines the diocese’s decisions and conduct across the entire region. What happened was never your fault.Holding the Diocese of Pittsburgh Accountable: Not Just the Individual
Pittsburgh has one of Pennsylvania’s largest Catholic communities, spread across parishes, schools, and programs throughout the region. When the Diocese of Pittsburgh knew, or should have known, about an abuser and failed to act, through negligent supervision, a quiet reassignment, or a concealed complaint, it can be held accountable alongside the individual who caused the harm. A civil claim examines those decisions, not just the abuse itself.Your Deadline to File: Don’t Wait to Find Out
Pennsylvania’s filing deadlines have shifted significantly in recent years, and how much time you have depends on your age when the abuse occurred, along with other details specific to your situation. If the abuse happened years ago, there’s a real chance your window is still open, but it won’t stay open indefinitely. A quick, no-obligation call with Ashley DiLiberto can give you a clear answer about your own deadline, before time quietly takes that choice away.What a Confidential Consultation Looks Like
When you are ready, reaching out is simpler than you might expect:- You share only what you’re ready to share. There’s no pressure and no judgment here.
- Ashley explains in plain language whether the diocese and others involved can be held accountable, and what your options actually are.
- If we move forward together, 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: about making the institution answer for what it allowed to happen, so others are better protected going forward. A civil claim can also pursue real financial recovery: the cost of counseling and future therapy, medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and the full weight of the impact this abuse has had on your life. Past results do not guarantee a future outcome; every case is evaluated on its own facts.Your Attorney: Ashley DiLiberto
Ashley B. DiLiberto has built her practice around survivors: people who were let down not just by one person, but by the institutions entrusted to protect them. 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 large-scale institutional abuse cases, including those connected to the Boy Scouts of America’s $2.46 billion settlement. She has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Rising Star” every year since 2019. She is available for free, confidential consultations at any hour. (PA Attorney ID 323701, admitted 2017.) Past results do not guarantee a future outcome.Frequently asked questions
Was the Diocese of Pittsburgh in the 2018 grand jury report?
Yes — prominently. Pittsburgh was one of the six dioceses examined, and it accounted for roughly a third of the more than 300 priests named statewide, the largest single share. You do not need to be named in the report to bring a civil claim.
Which counties does a Diocese of Pittsburgh case cover?
Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington Counties. Abuse tied to a parish, school, or ministry anywhere in that six-county footprint can implicate the institution.
Where would a Pittsburgh 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 Allegheny 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. 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:
