Romanucci & Blandin secures settlement for abuse endured at Angel Guardian Orphanage over 50 years ago
CHICAGO (June 15, 2023) – In April 2023, Romanucci & Blandin settled a clergy abuse claim on behalf of a man who was repeatedly sexually and physically abused in the late 1960s when he was an orphan residing at Angel Guardian Orphanage, a now-closed orphanage that was located at 2001 W. Devon Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. At the time of John Doe’s abuse, Angel Guardian Orphanage was operated by the Archdiocese of Chicago, and staffed in part by nuns from the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, a Catholic religious order based out of Indiana.
R&B client John Doe alleged there were several perpetrators during his time at the orphanage, including a priest and a seminarian. The abuse occurred on the premises of the orphanage, including in a storage room and a priest’s office, as well as during Angel Guardian camping trips at Camp Villa Marie, a sleep-away camp in McHenry, Illinois that was owned by Catholic Charities and rented out by the Archdiocese during the summer. John Doe was around 7-10 years old during the abuse. He suffered serious psychological injuries and trauma from the abuse, including suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, nightmares, and substance abuse and addiction.
In 1973, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services pulled its funding for Angel Guardian Orphanage, and the Orphanage ceased its operations shortly thereafter in 1974.
John Doe settled his case with the Catholic Bishop of Chicago d/b/a Archdiocese of Chicago; the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ; and the Augustinian Order.
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About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC
Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death. Founded in 1998, we have decades of history securing verdicts and settlements for our clients - many for millions of dollars and others record-setting awards. Our expertise ranges from medical malpractice and sexual abuse cases involving individual or institutional negligence to civil rights, police misconduct and workers' compensation, making Romanucci & Blandin a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 313-7543.
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