A Single RI Judge Will Oversee Flood of Clergy Abuse Lawsuits

PROVIDENCE, RI — A single judge will oversee the growing number of lawsuits alleging childhood abuse by Roman Catholic clergy in Rhode Island. Superior Court Judge Richard A. Licht will preside over the 40-plus lawsuits filed since July 1, the start of a two-year “revival window” established by the legislature to allow individuals to seek accountability for claims that previously expired due to statute of limitations.

State lawmakers passed the measure, signed into law by the governor, following the release of a report by Attorney General Peter F. Neronha’s office that detailed allegations of widespread abuse and a cover-up. The legislation opened a path for those alleging child sex abuse to pursue civil suits, even for claims dating back decades.

Since 2025, Licht has been managing the mass tort calendar for the Rhode Island judiciary under an administrative order by retired Superior Court Presiding Justice Alice B. Gibney. The court created a dedicated calendar to handle complex litigation involving similar claims and defendants.

Gibney named Licht to supervise the calendar in October 2025. Among his responsibilities will be selecting bellwether cases for trial, which are representative cases used to gauge potential outcomes in mass litigation.

Licht established a dedicated docket for the close to three dozen cases filed as of July 1, with the majority brought by the firm Decof, Mega & Quinn. Additional lawsuits have been filed in the following weeks, with more expected.

Most of the lawsuits name the Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Providence, the churches where the alleged abuser was assigned, and individuals, some unnamed, as defendants. The lawsuits seek to hold the church responsible for the conduct of the alleged offenders and accuse them of negligence for the pain and suffering inflicted on children under their care. They also allege that the parties conspired to mislead the public about the extent of clergy sexual abuse and the dangers posed by clergy under their supervision.

Legislation to lift the statute of limitations on child sex abuse claims had been in discussion for seven years before passing this year, following the attorney general’s report and despite the diocese’s opposition. The report chronicled decades of alleged abuse by clergy members against many Rhode Island children and the subsequent cover-up by the diocese.

Source: Read the original report