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Who is Frank T. Cimino?
Frank T. Cimino was a Director with the Maryland State Boychoir. He was also listed as one of the redacted names in the recent Grand Jury Report on the Baltimore Archdioces. The report exposed more than 150 predator clergy members for sexually abusing children. Even though his name was redacted, an article in The Baltimore Sun named him publicly. He immediately resigned from his position with the Maryland State Boychoir.
The Baltimore Sun article stated that Cimino was the music minister at St. Thomas More Catholic Church when he allegedly sexually abused a choirboy in the 1970s. He was fired from the position in 1987 amid the allegations. He went on to found the Maryland Boychoir that very same year, giving him access to children.
According to reports, the Boychoir was based at St. Matthew United Church of Christ in northeast Baltimore.
What we know about child sexual offenders is that there is a high likelihood that there are more victims who have yet to disclose, It’s logical that St. Matthew United Church of Christ knew of Cimino’s prior history. A simple background check would have revealed that he was previously terminated from a church for alleged sexual abuse. St. Matthew United Church of Christ was either negligent in their hiring of Cimino or complicit in covering up his history and allowing him access to children. Both can make them liable in a civil case if any other victims reveal themselves as being sexually abused by Frank T. Cimino at St. Matthew United Church of Christ.
We understand how hard it is to accept the reality that one has been sexually abused. The system can feel scary. You are not alone. Andreozzi + Foote is experienced and offers a trauma-informed approach when seeking justice for our clients.
How Can A Civil Lawsuit Help Victims Seek Justice For The Trauma Experienced?
There are many misunderstandings about why a survivor of sexual abuse would choose to file a civil lawsuit. Child sexual abuse takes away so much from the survivors and families impacted. In our society, we are still struggling to find ways to repair the harm done by individual perpetrators and institutions who have covered up child sexual abuse. Due to outdated statute limitations across our country, far too many survivors have been denied access to our courts for criminal or civil justice.
Filing a civil case can be an essential step for survivors and their families in their journey to slowly rebuild their lives. It can create pathways to healing. Motivation for filing a civil suit is often questioned and unfairly stereotyped as being “all about money. The concept of filing a civil lawsuit casts survivors as “money hungry” and is weaponized to shame and blame them even more. This couldn’t be further from the truth for survivors of child sexual abuse. The civil justice system offers victims more than just monetary benefits.
Lawsuits give survivors access to justice, validation, exposure, and confrontation. Resolution allows survivors to fully understand and process what happened to them. This can begin to create a new path forward.
Can I pursue a case against Frank T. Cimino, The Catholic Church, or St. Matthew United Church of Christ?
Yes.
Andreozzi + Foote have experience working with Maryland’s new law allowing any previously time-barred victims to file civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse. If you were a victim of Frank T. Cimino, you may be able to take action against the churches for failing to protect you or your child.
We know it can be hard to talk about these experiences. Our compassionate lawyers are here to listen and provide knowledgeable legal guidance. We provide free, confidential case evaluations where you can learn more about your rights and options under your state’s laws, contact Andreozzi + Foote today.
