Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers Represents Plaintiff Marian Ippel in Lawsuit Against Grace Christian Reformed Church for Alleged Sexual Abuse
Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of Marian Ippel, a sexual assault survivor. The suit alleges Grace Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan and its affiliates, including the Christian Reformed Church in North America, fostered a culture that led to the sexual abuse of Ippel and others.
The Christian Reformed Church in North America Foundation's institutions have long held a reputation of sexual abuse; in 1989 a study of its members showed that 28% of adults had experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, and that 15% of adults had committed abuse to others. The study also identified "children between birth and 12 years old are at greatest risk of abuse." Despite records showing reports of alleged abuse by church leaders and members weekly, perpetrators continued to get away with these crimes due to nepotism and a support network within the churches willing to cover it up.
Our firm stands proudly with Marian Ippel and all sexual abuse survivors, and we look forward to achieving justice on her behalf. Marian is supported by our attorneys Megan Bonanni, Kevin Carlson, and Robin Wagner.
NBC News exclusively covered Marian’s lawsuit and her fight for justice in a recent article “Woman recalls alleged sexual abuse at age 3 in Michigan church, lawsuit says.”
Read the article here: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/woman-recalls-alleged-sexual-abuse-age-3-michigan-church-lawsuit-says-rcna165569