Lackawanna County Clergy Abuse Survivor Rights and Legal Options

If you experienced sexual abuse by clergy or another religious leader in Lackawanna County, you deserve to be heard and to have clear information about your options. You can seek confidential legal advice without first making a police report or confronting the person or institution. This page offers general information, not legal advice, and does not determine whether a particular claim can be filed.

Where a civil case may be filed

Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County. Civil cases are handled by the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System lists the Clerk of Judicial Records at the Lackawanna County Courthouse, 200 North Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503, telephone 570-963-6723. Before traveling, contact the Clerk to confirm the correct office, filing location, current procedures, and fees for a civil case. The court’s location does not determine where every claim must be filed; venue and the proper defendants depend on the facts and applicable law.

Pennsylvania filing deadlines

Deadlines can depend on the survivor’s age when the abuse occurred, the type of conduct, when a claim accrued, who may be legally responsible, and other case-specific facts. Pennsylvania law currently provides that a person whose civil claim arising from sexual abuse accrued while they were under 18 generally has until 37 years after turning 18 to bring an action for damages. A person whose claim arose when they were at least 18 but under 24 generally has until age 30. The statute’s definitions and application are specific; a lawyer should review the facts promptly. Do not assume that a deadline has expired—or that it remains open—without individualized legal advice.

As of November 7, 2026, Pennsylvania has not enacted a general retroactive civil filing window for expired childhood sexual abuse claims. House Bill 462 proposed a temporary revival period, but the official bill history shows it has not become law; the Senate resolution seeking to discharge it from committee was dropped from the calendar on June 23, 2026. A proposal is not an open filing window. Even if a general window has not been enacted, other legal options or exceptions may warrant review.

Reporting immediate safety concerns

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. If you are concerned that a child may currently be experiencing abuse, Pennsylvania ChildLine accepts reports at 1-800-932-0313, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone may report a concern; people who are mandated reporters have separate legal duties. A report to ChildLine is a child-safety step, not a civil lawsuit, and the two processes have different purposes.

Practical steps you can consider

• Write down what you remember in your own words, including approximate dates, locations, roles, and names of people who may have information. Keep your notes private and safe.
• Preserve letters, emails, photographs, calendars, church or school records, and other materials you already have. Do not alter originals or put yourself at risk to obtain records.
• Consider speaking with a Pennsylvania attorney who handles clergy or institutional abuse claims. Ask about deadlines, possible responsible parties, confidentiality, costs, and what can be done before any lawsuit is filed.
• You do not have to decide every next step at once. A civil claim, a criminal report, an institutional complaint, and a request for pastoral or other support are separate choices and processes.

Official resources

• Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System: Clerks of Courts directory
• 42 Pa.C.S. § 5533: Pennsylvania filing-time statute
• Pennsylvania General Assembly: House Bill 462 history
• Pennsylvania ChildLine: report child abuse or neglect

If you are considering a civil claim, prompt legal review can help preserve options. The time limit for a particular claim can only be assessed after reviewing its facts and the law that applies.