BUFFALO, N.Y. — Attorney Steve Boyd read part of a statement Tuesday from his latest client, known as AB 393 DOE, in a Child Victims Act lawsuit filed Monday in Genesee County State Supreme Court.

"I am ready now, with the support of my family and my attorneys to let the legal process run its course," said Boyd, of The Law Offices of Steve Boyd, John Elmore.

What You Need To Know

  • Additional CVA lawsuits have been filed claiming abuse against a late priest and a retired bishop
  • The plaintiff says the abuse took place from 1985-1990
  • Survivors only have a month left to file a CVA suit
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The suit alleges sexual abuse at the hands of now-retired Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo Edward Grosz and the late Father Richard Keppeler of St. Brigid in Bergen, from 1985 to 1990, starting when the plaintiff was 15.

"We have been very careful in bringing a lawsuit of this kind,” said Boyd. “It is really truly, with a heavy heart that we bring another lawsuit on behalf of another survivor.”

"So, we really express a debt of gratitude to this survivor for naming Grosz and having the courage to do that," said Jeff Anderson, of Jeff Anderson & Associates.

Attorneys say the plaintiff did tell his mother on two occasions, before calling his attorney.

Other abuse survivors were on hand to tell their story as Bishop Grosz was ironically the point person tasked with handling the crisis and contacting survivors after reports were made. 

"Personal tragedies and pain,” said Kevin Brun, clergy sexual abuse survivor. “This man, this person — I won't call him bishop — I feel like my story that I expressed to him was compromised. With the knowledge that knew himself, that he was a sexual abuser.”

In a recent statement, the Diocese says the recently-retired Grosz denies the allegations, yet has stepped away from active ministry pending an investigation.

Leaders say Bishop Michael Fisher has notified the proper authorities in Erie County, New York state, Washington, D.C. and Rome.

"Removing an accused priest from ministry is part of the goal,” said Boyd. “I would never use the word satisfied. The true satisfaction would be if there was a way to give these people their childhoods back. You can't do that.”

Boyd and Anderson say the number of lost childhoods and cases total more than 300 since the look-back window opened two years ago.

"Each one of them is an individual little boy or girl who was frightened for their life with the greatest power,” said Boyd. “A power that was not only over them, but they felt was over their parents.”

Attorneys say the suit could not be filed directly against the Diocese since it has filed for bankruptcy, but will now be part of the court proceeding.

The look-back window for any other survivors wanting to file a CVA suit is only open for another month, as it is set to close August 13.