Romanucci & Blandin secures $1.75 million settlement for sexual abuse of a girl by priest at St. Cyril Catholic School

Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, a national personal injury firm primarily based in Chicago, announces a $1.75 million settlement with the Carmelites, Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary (Carmelites) and the Archdiocese of Chicago on behalf of an individual (Jane Doe) who was repeatedly sexually abused as a girl by Father Robert (Bob) Boley in the 1980s. Father Boley was a Carmelite priest assigned to St. Cyril Catholic School at 6423 S. Woodlawn Avenue in Chicago (now closed), where he was Jane Doe’s teacher. During one school year, he abused her multiple times in the classroom, having her stay inside for recess and sexually assaulting her while also telling her she was a bad child, that God was angry with her and making her read the Bible during the abuse.

Prior to his role at St. Cyril’s Catholic School, Father Boley worked with children in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, where he has been accused of molesting at least two children. He was transferred from Los Angeles to Chicago by the Church without a documented explanation.

Attorneys alleged that Church leaders knew or should have known that Father Boley was a sexual predator and was unfit to supervise minor children prior to being transferred to the Archdiocese of Chicago, and that the Defendants were negligent in their hiring, retention and supervision of Father Boley.

The settlement was reached in June 2022. The plaintiff was represented by Romanucci & Blandin.  The settlement was mediated by Hon. Kay Hanlon of ADR Systems.

“Our client demonstrated tremendous courage coming forward to tell her story and seek accountability, and we are confident the testimony she provided to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office as part of their investigation into clergy abuse within the state will ultimately lead to necessary policy changes and protect future generations of children from abuse. We are proud of Jane Doe,” R&B's legal team said.

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