Case Highlights: Church Member Accused of Abuse
- A clergy member was accused of institutional neglect and physical abuse
- An angry parent made reports to the Department of Children and Families that Clergy Member hit their children
- Department began an investigation into the accusations
- Attorney Seaver demonstrated that an unreliable source had made the allegations. DCF determined the accusations to be false and found the decision unsupported.
Case Study:
In this case, a parent, angered by their church and seeking revenge, made multiple anonymous accusations against a Clergy Member, including the claim that the member had repeatedly hit their children in the face during Sunday School. The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families informed the Clergy Member of these accusations, leaving them shocked as they had never faced any criminal charges before and had no idea how to proceed. Fearing potential job loss as a member of the church, the Clergy Member sought a lawyer with experience dealing with DCF and who would consider their side of the story. A friend, previously accused of similar charges, recommended Attorney Kevin Seaver.
Attorney Seaver worked on proving to the department that the clergy member was a kindhearted and law-abiding citizen. A thorough examination of the case revealed that the accusations were retaliatory and based on falsehoods. The accusing parent, as it turned out, had a serious criminal record of their own. We carefully examined every detail of the reports, revealing the truth. Upon realizing that the accusations were fabricated, the department took prompt action. The case lacked support, so we closed it. Thanks to Attorney Seaver, the Clergy Member retained their position within the church with their reputation intact. They could continue caring for children and working without further question.
Remember that the ultimate goal of DCF is to ensure the safety and well-being of children while supporting families in crisis.
Please note that this article does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between our law firm and the reader and is provided for informational purposes only. Information in this article does not apply to all readers.
Readers should not rely on this information as legal advice and should seek specific counsel from the attorney based on personal circumstances. Thank you.
Kevin Patrick Seaver is a Massachusetts DCF Defense Lawyer who represents parents against false child abuse allegations.