Parker Waichman LLP

Suit Alleges Priest Molested a Boy

  A Priest Molested A Boy At Miami Nursing Home. A 10-year-old boy was in such anguish during the late 1990s he told his mother he wanted to cut his hands off. It wasn’t until years later that she discovered his turmoil was caused by a priest, who allegedly forced the boy to fondle him, […]

North Miami Nursing Home

 

A Priest Molested A Boy At Miami Nursing Home. A 10-year-old boy was in such anguish during the late 1990s he told his mother he wanted to cut his hands off.

It wasn’t until years later that she discovered his turmoil was caused by a priest, who allegedly forced the boy to fondle him, the mother said Thursday.

At a news conference the 38-year-old mother, whose identity is not being released to protect her child, talked about what prompted the lawsuit she filed in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court against the Rev. Trevor Smith, Villa Maria Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Miami and the Miami Archdiocese, which owns the center.

The suit claims that when the family visited an ill relative at the nursing home, the center’s chaplain befriended the family and ultimately molested the boy.

“I feel hurt and guilty that I continued taking [my son] there … I felt he was in safe place,” she said, adding that when her son began acting out she turned to the priest for help. “I’m so repulsed to even call him a priest. I don’t think he deserves to be called `father.'”

Neither Smith nor the center Administrator, James Reiss, could be reached for comment. Archdiocese officials released a brief statement saying the 65-year-old priest, who retired in May, is “proclaiming his innocence.”

Archdiocese spokeswoman Mary Ross Agosta said the claims would be investigated by an “internal response team.”

The case stands out among the 15 sexual abuse lawsuits recently filed against the archdiocese as the only one in which the alleged victim of a priest is still a teenager.

The now 14-year-old’s emotional problems got so bad that he attempted suicide

According to the boy’s mother, after the alleged abuse started, her son covered his hands with gloves, said he didn’t want to grow up and believed he was “too dirty” to receive communion. The now 14-year-old’s emotional problems got so bad that he attempted suicide and now attends a school for “emotionally handicapped” children.

It wasn’t until the teen broke his leg in July of this year and was medicated, that he finally opened up, said the family’s Hollywood-based attorney Jeff Herman of Herman & Mermelstein.

“He told his mother he felt free and he could tell her his secret,” the lawsuit claims.

The boy said that during the time the family spent visiting his grandmother every week, in 1998 or 1999 the priest took the boy to his room to “show him something,” said the lawsuit. There, Smith told a story about another boy he had met at the center and how he would measure the boy’s penis to see if it had grown, according to the lawsuit.

The suit claims that Smith then pulled out a ruler, unzipped the boy’s pants and began to fondle him. Afterward the priest forced the boy to reciprocate and showed him photographs of nude children.

The abuse was reported to center officials and North Miami police as soon as the boy talked to his mother, she said. Herman said a Detective Felix Guarama took a report, spoke with archdiocese officials and the case remains open. North Miami police were contacted but details were not available.

Before working at the center, the recently retired priest worked at St. Clement Catholic Church in Fort Lauderdale, St. Patrick in Miami Beach and Epiphany in Miami during the 1970s and 1980s, said Herman. Agosta would not comment on Smith’s decision to retire.

Need Legal Help Regarding Miami Nursing Home?

The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).

[sc name=”post-footers”]

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
They were thorough, courteous professional, compassionate and efficient every step of the way. I felt very competent and secure knowing they were handling my case.
louie m
a month ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Parker Waichman was extremely professional and helpful in handling our WTC case. Benita Rollis, in particular, was amazing in helping us complete all the necessary steps and paper work for our claim. She was always quick to return phone calls and reach out to keep us posted on how things were progressing. Not only was Benita efficient and professional, she was also very compassionate in helping us through the emotional side of this long process. Carolyn Corcoran & Family
Robert Harris
a year ago
5 Star Reviews 150
I'd like to say a few words about Joanne Stevens, NP. From the first phone call she answered ALL my questions and set me at ease with her knowledge and empathy. She calls me frequently and anytime I call her and get her VM, she returns my call within 24 hrs. without fail. I gave her 5 stars but she deserves 10. Thank you Joanne Stevens, just THANK YOU. Tina Schlobohm
Tina Schlobohm
4 years ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038