The Archdiocese of Hartford is the largest Catholic diocese in Connecticut. It has paid more than $50 million to settle sexual abuse claims involving over 140 survivors. In 2019, the Archdiocese published a list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse. It has recently been updated
Attorney Tom McNamara has spent more than three decades representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse against the Archdiocese of Hartford. His record includes the only clergy abuse case ever tried to a jury verdict against the Archdiocese of Hartford. The Archdiocese fought this verdict all the way to the Connecticut Supreme Court, and lost.
If you were sexually abused by a priest, deacon, teacher, or other representative of the Archdiocese of Hartford, this page explains what Tom McNamara has accomplished for survivors like you — and what your legal options may be today.
The Trial That No One Else Would Take
In 2012, Attorney McNamara did something no other lawyer in Connecticut had done before or has done since: he took a clergy sexual abuse case against the Archdiocese of Hartford to a jury trial — and won.
The case, Jacob Doe v. Archdiocese of Hartford, alleged that the Archdiocese failed to adequately supervise Father Ivan Ferguson, failed to remove him from positions of access to children, and failed to warn parishioners and parents of the danger he posed. The evidence showed that Archbishop John Whealon had received previous complaints that Ferguson was sexually abusing young boys — and did nothing to stop it.
What the Evidence Showed
After complaints surfaced, Ferguson was sent to the St. Luke Institute for treatment. In a memorandum written after two mothers reported sexual abuse of their sons, Rev. Gene Gianelli, secretary to Archbishop John Whealon, wrote, “I will not let this woman know where father is receiving treatment. She could become a pest if she knew.” In a letter from the Institute to Archbishop Whealon, the staff noted that Ferguson “was planning to work in an all-boys’ school” and “would have preferred working in the boys’ school.”
Attorney McNamara argued that this request — an admitted sexual abuser seeking assignment at an all-boys school — should have confirmed to the Archdiocese that Ferguson remained a serious danger to children. Instead of removing him from ministry, the Archdiocese placed Ferguson at Lauralton Hall, an all-girls school in Milford, in July 1979. He was later reassigned to a parish affiliated with a co-ed school, where he sexually abused the plaintiff. The plaintiff testified that Ferguson provided him and his friend with liquor, showed them pornography, fondled them, committed acts of oral sex on them, and ultimately sodomized the plaintiff.
The Opening Statements
In opening statements, Attorney McNamara told the jury members that they would hear “some of the most vile, revolting and damaging acts that could be done to a young person” and that Archbishop Whealon “chose to put a child abuser in contact with the objects of his sexual desire.”
In its opening statement, the Archdiocese’s lawyer stated that the Archdiocese acted in accordance with the doctor’s notes at the St. Luke Institute where Ferguson was treating. Specifically, that if Ferguson’s alcoholism was under control, the sexual abuse should stop. The Archdiocese insisted that Ferguson was treated for sexual disorders at St. Luke’s, and therefore it was safe to put him back among children. In a deposition of Ferguson, who was deceased at the time of trial, he testified that he was only treated for alcohol problems and not for sexual issues. His St. Luke records were devoid of any treatment for sexual issues.
The Verdict
The jury didn’t just find the Archdiocese negligent. They found the Archdiocese’s conduct was reckless — showing reckless disregard for the rights and safety of others. Both negligence and recklessness were found to be direct causes of the plaintiff’s injuries. Judge Dubay granted the plaintiff’s motion for punitive damages and costs in accordance with the recklessness finding.
After the verdict, Jacob Doe told the Hartford Courant: “This predator was placed in a position where he could harm me and my friend. I’m hoping that other victims can begin their healing process, and the church does the right thing going forward.”
According to the Hartford Courant, some jurors were still trying to compose themselves as they left the courthouse. The forewoman said: “We were working very hard together to be fair…and we are very proud of the job we did.”
The Appeal
The Archdiocese appealed to the Connecticut Supreme Court, arguing on multiple grounds that the verdict should be overturned. The Court rejected every argument. Key rulings included:
Connecticut General Statutes §52-577d — which allows sexual abuse victims to file suit until age 48 — did not violate the Archdiocese’s due process rights.
The trial court properly excluded the Archdiocese’s expert witness, who would have testified about how child molestation “was viewed” in the 1970s and 1980s — essentially an attempt to excuse decades of institutional inaction.
The Connecticut Supreme Court upheld the verdict in full. The final recovery to the plaintiff, after post-appeal interest, was $1,661,413.50. This remains the only clergy sexual abuse case against the Archdiocese of Hartford tried to a jury verdict in the state of Connecticut. The Connecticut Supreme Court’s decision can be found at Doe v. Hartford Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation, 317 Conn. 357 (2015).
Why This Matters for Survivors Today
Most clergy abuse cases settle out of court. That is often the right outcome for the survivor — it avoids the stress of a public trial and provides compensation more quickly. But settlements happen in the shadow of trial. The amount a diocese is willing to pay depends on what they believe will happen if the case goes before a jury.
When a survivor is represented by an attorney who has actually taken a case to trial against the Archdiocese and won, the Archdiocese knows that threat is real. They know this attorney will not back down. That changes the negotiation entirely.
Tom McNamara is the only attorney in Connecticut who can make that claim.
The $22 Million Group Settlement
In 2005, the Archdiocese of Hartford reached a $22 million settlement with 43 survivors of clergy sexual abuse. The settlement involved claims against 14 accused priests.
Attorney McNamara represented 16 of the 43 survivors in that group — 37 percent of the total. That was the largest share held by any single attorney in the settlement.
Combined with the trial verdict, Tom’s work against the Hartford Archdiocese has resulted in millions of dollars recovered for survivors who trusted him with their cases.
50+ Sexual Abuse Cases Across All Three Connecticut Dioceses
Tom McNamara has handled sexual abuse cases against all three Roman Catholic dioceses in Connecticut: the Archdiocese of Hartford, the Diocese of Bridgeport, and the Diocese of Norwich. His record against religious entities and other institutions includes more than 50 sexual abuse recoveries, with results including $3.35 million, $3 million, $2.4 million, and $2 million, among many others.
He has litigated cases involving sexual abuse against Catholic and Protestant churches, schools, entertainment venues, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. His experience spans every major institutional context in which sexual abuse occurs.
Priests Tom McNamara Has Litigated Against
Over the course of his career, Attorney McNamara has brought claims on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse committed by the following priests:
Ivan Ferguson • Daniel McSheffery • Thomas Glynn • Felix Maguire • Stephen Foley • Lawrence Brett • Charles Stubbs • Thomas Shea • Raymond Paul • Louis Paturzo • Paul Hebert • Martin Federici • Edward Muha • Stephen Bzydra • Peter G. Mitchell • Gregory Altermatt • Walter A. Vichas • Walter Coleman • James Curry • Adolphe T. Renkiewicz • Howard Nash • Joseph Buckley.
These names span all three Connecticut Catholic dioceses. If you were abused by any of these individuals — or by any other member of the clergy in Connecticut — Attorney McNamara has the experience and the record to help.
Recognized Expertise in Clergy Abuse Litigation
Attorney McNamara’s experience has been recognized beyond the courtroom. He has been retained as an expert witness to opine that attorneys representing a sexual assault plaintiff had probable cause to prosecute their case. He has also provided testimony on the benefits of full publicity and transparency in sexual abuse litigation — reinforcing his commitment to accountability for institutions that have enabled abuse.
The Hartford Archdiocese’s Record
The Archdiocese of Hartford encompasses the central and western portions of Connecticut. It is the largest diocese in the state and has faced the most extensive sexual abuse litigation.
Total payouts to survivors: More than $50.6 million across over 142 claims.
Accused priests list: In January 2019, the Archdiocese published a list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse, initially identifying 48 names across diocesan and religious order priests. The list has been updated multiple times since, most recently in 2024, adding 28 additional priests.
Recent activity: In March 2025, the Archdiocese paid $2.4 million to one of Attorney McNamara’s clients to settle a case involving horrific sexual abuse by Rev. Adolphe Renkiewicz. New cases continue to come forward.
These numbers represent individual human beings whose lives were damaged by people they were taught to trust. Every case that comes forward makes it harder for institutions to hide behind silence.
Your Legal Options as a Survivor
If you were sexually abused by a priest, deacon, teacher, or other representative of the Hartford Archdiocese, Bridgeport Diocese, or Norwich Diocese, you may have the right to seek compensation — even if the abuse happened decades ago.
Connecticut law gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse an extended window to file a lawsuit. If you were under 18 at the time of the abuse, you have until age 48. For abuse under 21 years old that occurred after October 1, 2019, you have until age 51. If your abuser was convicted of first-degree sexual assault, there is no time limit at all.
For a full explanation of the time limits and how they apply to your situation, see our Connecticut Statute of Limitations Guide for Sexual Abuse Survivors.
You do not need a police report to file a civil lawsuit. You do not need physical evidence. You do not need to know whether other victims have come forward. Your testimony is evidence, and Tom McNamara knows how to build a case.
For more about what happens when you reach out, including how we protect your privacy and what a first conversation looks like, see our What to Expect page.
Talk to the Attorney Who Took the Archdiocese to Trial — and Won
If you were sexually abused by a member of the clergy in Connecticut, you deserve an attorney who will fight for you — not just negotiate in your shadow, not just a firm that advertises that it handles sexual abuse cases but has never taken one to verdict. Tom McNamara is the only attorney in the state who has taken a clergy abuse case to a jury trial against the Archdiocese of Hartford and won. That verdict was upheld by the Connecticut Supreme Court.
Your consultation is free and completely confidential. You will speak directly with Attorney McNamara. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
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