Louisiana Sex Abuse Lawsuits

In Louisiana sex abuse lawsuits, settlement amounts depend on several factors, like how severe the abuse was, how long it lasted, and the emotional and mental harm it caused the victim. Courts and lawyers look at medical costs, such as therapy or counseling, and whether the abuse affected the victim’s ability to work. Pain and suffering damages are also a big part of the payout, meant to compensate for things like anxiety, PTSD, or emotional distress. These damages can be harder to measure since they are based on personal experiences.

The responsibility of the defendant also plays a big role, especially if the abuse happened under the watch of a church, school, or other organization. If it is shown that the institution ignored or covered up the abuse, the settlement may include punitive damages to punish the wrongdoing and prevent it from happening again. Louisiana laws—like the removal of the statute of limitations for certain abuse claims—and available insurance coverage also affect the final payout. Since every case is different, settlements are based on the unique details of each victim’s situation.

Below are example sex abuse settlements and jury payouts in Louisiana.  The common thread in many of these cases is obvious: Rev. Gilbert Gauthe. Regardless of the fact that so many involve a single defendant, this gives you some idea of how these cases are valued for settlement and by juries

You have to remember that with many of these smaller settlements, the statute of limitations had already passed.  So the claims had no value in court, except the possibility of the statute of limitations changing again. This is a case of the Church wanting to help victims, or, if you are more cynical, looking to put claims to bed in the event the statute of limitations in sex abuse lawsuits in Louisiana changed.

The Problem of  Priest Clergy Abuse in Louisiana

Besides Gauthe, another common focus on Louisiana sex abuse claims is 92-year-old retired Louisiana priest Lawrence Hecker. He was recently arrested for raping a teenage boy in the 1970s. The delayed prosecution – and lost chance at justice because he is no longer fit to stand trial – is attributed to a pervasive cone of silence surrounding the Catholic church and the courts, which has protected abusers like Hecker for decades. Despite Hecker’s confession to the Catholic church in 1999, the crimes were kept secret by four archbishops until 2018, when persistent efforts by victims and journalists finally brought his actions to light.

Everyone understands now, including some very well-intentioned Church officials today, that this case is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of abuse by Catholic clergy across the United States and the world. Louisiana has been a particular focal point of clergy abuse since the 1980s.

Unfortunately, the reality is still that the Church continues to resist transparency and accountability, as evidenced by ongoing controversies over who is listed as “credibly accused” and the use of bankruptcy to avoid settlements. The FBI’s current investigation into interstate child abuse involving Louisiana clergy, under the Mann Act, represents a potential new avenue for holding abusers accountable, as this federal law has no statute of limitations.

Recent Louisiana Sex Abuse Settlements and Lawsuits Updates

September 25, 2025: New Priest Sex Abuse Claims

A Madison priest was arrested in Waupaca County in 2025 after attempting to meet who he thought was a child for sex. He now faces charges of attempted sexual assault of a child, child enticement, and using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime. Church officials have suspended him from ministry while the case moves forward.

Since his arrest, another woman has come forward to report that the priest assaulted her in 2024. She says he touched her inappropriately and used aggressive sexual language, and that when she reported it to the church at the time, her complaint was ignored. Her decision to come forward highlights the broader pattern of survivors speaking out about misconduct that institutions have too often failed to address.

September 14, 2025: The Big Verdict

A federal jury in New Orleans awarded nearly $2.4 million to a man who was sexually abused in the late 1960s at a summer camp run by the Holy Cross religious order. The verdict is historic because it is the first since Louisiana’s Supreme Court upheld a state law allowing survivors of childhood sexual abuse to pursue civil damages regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.

The survivor testified that the camp director abused him, and that he later endured lifelong struggles with addiction, post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety. Holy Cross officials initially acknowledged his account as credible but ultimately failed to provide support, leading to the lawsuit.

The jury found sufficient evidence that he had been abused and that the order, as the abuser’s employer, was responsible. The $2.4 million award far exceeds the average payouts being offered by the New Orleans archdiocese in its bankruptcy plan, which would provide less than $400,000 per survivor.

The case highlights the potential value of individual lawsuits outside of bankruptcy and comes as hundreds of other survivors are preparing to vote on whether to accept the archdiocese’s proposed settlement.

August 27, 2025: Sorting Out Clergy Bankruptcy

The Archdiocese of New Orleans, in bankruptcy since 2020, is attempting to push forward a Chapter 11 reorganization plan centered on a proposed $180 million settlement trust for victims of childhood sexual abuse.

More than 650 claims have been filed, covering decades of abuse allegations. The trust would be funded with $130 million in cash from the archdiocese and affiliated Catholic entities, a $20 million promissory note payable in four years, $29 million from insurer settlements, and potentially another $30 to $56 million from the sale of 20 affordable housing facilities owned by church affiliates. So the whole plan is over $200 million.

Still, the plan faces significant opposition, including from the unsecured creditors committee, the U.S. Trustee’s Office, bondholders, and some plaintiffs’ attorneys. Central disputes concern whether the funding is adequate and how proceeds from future property sales will be distributed.

The bankruptcy judge has allowed the archdiocese additional time to refine its disclosure statement and attempt to resolve objections, continuing the hearing into early August. Confirmation of the plan is tentatively scheduled for mid-November, but consensus among the many competing parties remains uncertain.

July 8, 2025: Another Uber Sex Abuse Lawsuit

In a new lawsuit filed yesterday, a woman from Walker, Louisiana, filed suit against Uber, alleging that an Uber driver sexually assaulted her during a ride in New Orleans on August 13, 2024. The plaintiff claims the assault occurred while she was using the Uber platform as an account holder. She seeks damages for the physical and emotional harm caused, asserting causes of action including negligence, product liability, and vicarious liability for the driver’s conduct.

Why was this lawsuit filed in California and not Louisiana? Although the incident took place in Louisiana and the plaintiff resides there, the case was filed directly in the Northern District of California as part of MDL No. 3084, which consolidates Uber sexual assault cases from across the country. Filing in the MDL allows for coordinated pretrial proceedings under one judge. Plaintiffs like this one can later request to have their case remanded to their home state for trial at the appropriate time. But, more likely, there will be a global settlement before that.

July 2, 2025: 2.75 Million Jury Verdict in Lousteau v. Holy Cross

A federal jury in New Orleans awarded $2.75 million to a survivor of clergy sexual abuse from the late 1960s. The plaintiff was abused at a boys’ summer camp run by the Congregation of Holy Cross.

This verdict is significant as it is the first major jury award under Louisiana’s revived “lookback window,” which allows survivors to file civil lawsuits regardless of when the abuse occurred. The jury held the religious order accountable for enabling and concealing the abuse.

May 27, 2025: New Orleans Archdiocese Agrees to $180 Million Clergy Abuse Settlement

The Archdiocese of New Orleans has reached a tentative $180 million settlement to resolve over 600 clergy sexual abuse claims as part of its ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. The agreement, which includes contributions from the archdiocese, its parishes, and insurers, aims to provide compensation to survivors through a trust fund. However, the settlement has faced criticism from many survivors and their attorneys, who argue that the deal was negotiated without adequate input from victims and may limit their ability to pursue claims in state court. The settlement requires approval from abuse survivors, the bankruptcy court, and other creditors before it can be finalized.

May 15, 2025 – New Uber Sex Abuse Lawsuit

In a new Uber sexual assault lawsuit, a passenger from Sulphur, Louisiana, has accused Uber Technologies and its affiliated entities of failing to protect her safety during a ride arranged through the Uber app.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants were negligent and engaged in other misconduct after an Uber driver allegedly committed a sexual assault in January 2024. According to the complaint, Uber failed to implement proper safety protocols, such as thorough driver screening, monitoring, and oversight, despite being aware of the dangers riders, especially women, faced. The plaintiff claims that this lack of action played a direct role in allowing the assault to occur.

May 6, 2025: Calculating Sex Abuse Lawsuit Settlements in Louisiana

It is not easy to calculate settlement payouts in sex abuse lawsuits. There are a lot of variables.  The amount of these settlements can vary significantly depending on the specifics of each case.

But there are key factors that tend to drive compensation amounts in most claims. One factor—the main factor — is the defendant’s ability to pay.  Large institutions or organizations that have insurance are almost always a necessary component of a successful sex abuse settlement.

Beyond that, the next big factor that will influence the size of a settlement is the severity of the abuse suffered by the victim. Victims who have suffered more severe abuse, such as repeated assaults over a long period, may be awarded larger settlements than those who experienced a single instance of abuse.

Another critical factor in determining settlement amounts for Louisiana sex abuse lawsuits is the degree of negligence by third parties, such as churches, schools, or youth organizations, that had a duty to protect victims. When there is evidence that these institutions knew about the abuse or had clear opportunities to prevent it but failed to act, the negligence becomes especially egregious.

Cases involving cover-ups, repeated warnings that were ignored, or deliberate efforts to protect abusers will almost invariably result in higher settlements. The more reckless the institution’s behavior, the stronger the case for higher compensation.

Finally, the legal team representing the victim can also play a role in determining the size of a settlement. Experienced attorneys with a track record of success in sex abuse cases may be able to negotiate larger settlements on behalf of their clients.

May 3, 2025: Louisiana Family Advocates for Anti-Grooming Legislation

A family directly affected by clergy sex abuse in New Orleans is spearheading legislation to criminalize grooming behavior in Louisiana. Tim Gioe, abused by Father Pat Wattigny in the 1990s, joined with his wife Sarah Connick Gioe and her father, state Senator Pat Connick, to craft a bill targeting the manipulative conduct that often precedes abuse. The proposed anti-grooming bill seeks to make it a crime to groom minors under 17 for predatory purposes, carrying up to 15 years in prison. The bill has garnered bipartisan support and is advancing through the state legislature.

March 3, 2025 – Archdiocese of New Orleans Looks at Bankruptcy

The Archdiocese of New Orleans is one of the many wings of the Catholic Church across the country that has filed for bankruptcy to protect itself from mounting liability for clergy sexual abuse lawsuits.

Archbishop Aymond recently announced that the archdiocese will seek to terminate its contracts and partnerships with various companies due to the bankruptcy. Specifically, the Archdiocese will likely sell many of its community apartment complexes, such as Annunciation Inn, Christopher Inn, St. Bernard Manor, and six other centers.

This move underscores what survivors and their advocates have long argued: that the Archdiocese of New Orleans is more focused on protecting institutional assets than providing meaningful justice to victims of sexual misconduct.

Rather than opening its books fully or ensuring transparency in how abuse was allowed to persist for decades, the Archdiocese is shielding itself behind bankruptcy protections while discarding community investments like apartment complexes to stay afloat. A seasoned New Orleans sexual assault lawyer recognizes what we hoped as their old pattern—delay, deflect, and restructure—without squarely confronting the harm inflicted or the systems that enabled it and trying to fix them.

January 5, 2025 – Task Force to Examine State Handling of Sex Abuse Cases

A new task force has been created to examine how the state of Louisiana handles cases involving child sexual abuse. The chairman of the task force is State Senator Regina Barrow. The goal of the task force is to find shortcomings within the judicial system and other areas and make recommendations for how to improve the state’s response to child sexual abuse.

October 19, 2024 – Residential Treatment and Juvenile Detention Abuse Lawsuits

Our national team of sex assault attorneys is now focusing on cases of abuse and neglect in residential treatment facilities throughout Louisiana. These facilities have come under heavy scrutiny following a Senate investigation that revealed widespread systemic abuse and neglect.

The investigation uncovered a troubling pattern of misconduct and mistreatment, including physical and sexual abuse, in facilities funded by taxpayer dollars, such as Medicaid and child welfare programs. Several companies operating these facilities were named in the report, including Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.

There is also renewed focus on sex abuse lawsuits involving the abuse of inmates in Louisiana juvenile detention centers. Juvenile detention centers have been plagued by systemic neglect and sexual abuse of inmates, and a growing number of these lawsuits are being filed.

Below are some of the major residential treatment facilities and juvenile detention centers in Louisiana that have been the target of recent sex abuse lawsuits:

• Acadiana Center for Youth at St. Martinville
• Bernard Parish Juvenile Detention Center
• Bridge City Youth Center
• Brentwood Hospital
• Jackson Parish Jail
• Jetson Correctional Center for Youth
• Louisiana Berbard Parish Prison
• Tallulah Correctional Center for Youth
• Swanson Center for Youth
• Ware Youth Center

October 15, 2024:  $1 Sex Abuse Verdict

The New Orleans Police Department was found liable in a civil lawsuit for the repeated sexual assault of a teenage victim by one of its officers. A jury awarded the victim $1 million in damages. The case highlights how the officer exploited his position of authority to carry out the assaults while the police department sat on its hands.