A woman has sued the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, as well as her former southwest Houston parish, due to sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of a former youth minister. The woman’s lawsuit states that she met with youth minister Ralph Garza to receive counseling for abuse, allowing Garza to be with the woman alone regularly. That suit further alleges that Garza groomed her for months before eventually molesting her. On one such occasion, Garza forced the woman to touch his genitals, and on another occasion, Garza kissed and fondled her. Following the abuse, Garza was arrested and convicted of indecency with a child, and Garza is now a registered sex offender living in Houston.
The Archdiocese Galveston-Houston recently filed its answer to the woman’s lawsuit, denying her claims and asserting the woman must “prove her charges and allegations.” However, the archdiocese confirmed that it cooperated with law enforcement in the prosecution of Garza when the allegations initially came to light.
If you or a loved one has been molested or abused under the same or similar circumstances, call the law firm of Abraham Watkins today. It is imperative that you find a law firm to manage your claim as soon as possible following an injury or death of a family member. Further, it is important to find a skilled law firm with experience handling these cases to ensure that the responsible parties are held fully accountable. The law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner is the oldest personal injury firm in Texas, and our attorneys are standing by to assist with your claim. Call us today at (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211 for your free consultation.