Catholic Church Abuse Lawsuit Attorney in New York City, New York

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Local Courts

Courts in New York City, New York

New York County Supreme Court

60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007

Medical Facilities

Hospitals & Trauma Centers in New York City

Safe Horizon Counseling Center

2 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10007

Liability Overview

Liability Considerations in New York City

New York's Child Victims Act lookback window closed August 14, 2021. Claims filed during that period remain active in litigation. New York courts still allow suits against the Archdiocese of New York and Diocese of Brooklyn for pre-cutoff filings. The archdiocese has set up a compensation fund; consult counsel on settlement vs. litigation.

The Team

Your Legal Team

CO

Catherine Oduya

Senior Partner

New York, NY

22+ Years Experience
Institutional childhood sexual abuseCatholic Church clergy abuse litigationNew York Child Victims Act proceedingsDiocesan bankruptcy claims representation

Catherine Oduya has spent 22 years representing survivors of institutional sexual abuse, with a primary focus on Catholic clergy abuse litigation in New York state courts. She was among the first attorneys to file claims under New York's Child Victims Act in 2019 and has represented over 300 survivors in diocesan bankruptcy proceedings and direct civil litigation against New York dioceses. Catherine's background in psychology informs her trauma-informed approach to client advocacy — she understands the unique psychological barriers that prevent survivors from coming forward and provides a safe, judgment-free environment for initial consultations. She has recovered over $120 million for Catholic Church abuse survivors in her career. Catherine is a member of CHILD USA's attorney network and collaborates with SNAP to connect survivors with legal resources. She is actively preparing cases for New York's March 2026 lookback window.

Education

  • J.D., Fordham University School of Law (2004)
  • B.A., Psychology, New York University (2001)