OBSERVER Staff Report

Fourteen more sexual abuse survivors sued the Diocese of Buffalo under the New York Child Victims Act. The lawsuits name 11 alleged perpetrators, including a priest who worked in Dunkirk.

The law firms of Steve Boyd, PC and Jeff Anderson & Associates have now filed 100 lawsuits naming the Diocese of Buffalo as defendants; 83 of the cases were filed on Aug. 14 when the Child Victims Act took effect allowing survivors of sexual abuse to bring claims no matter when the abuse occurred, and extending the statute of limitations to age 55.

“There are a lot of survivors suffering in Buffalo,” said Attorney Jeff Anderson in a news release Tuesday. “It’s time for reckoning, a massive clean-up and child protection.”

“”We are honored to work for these brave survivors,” said Attorney Steve Boyd. “We are always mindful of their suffering and their need for continued healing. Our work is far from over. Sadly we have dozens of more suits to file in the coming months.”

Father Philip Badame is being named publicly for the first time. Badame sexually abused AB Doe 4 in approximately 1973 to 1975 when he worked at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Buffalo. According to news articles, Badame was the Director of the Diocesan Youth Department for many years and worked at St. Joseph in Niagara Falls, St. James in Jamestown and All Saints and St. Boniface in Buffalo.

Also filed was the first lawsuit naming Father William Lanphear. Lanphear sexually abused AB Doe 137 in approximately 1971 to 1974 while he worked at St. Bernard in Buffalo.

He also worked at Holy Trinity in Dunkirk, Queen of Martyrs in Cheektowaga and De Sales High School in Lockport.

Additional perpetrators named in the lawsuits include: Father Thomas L. Kemp; Father Loren G. Nys, S.D.S.; Msgr. Michael Harrington (three cases); Father Donald Becker; Father Gerald Collins; Father Michael Freeman; Father Donald Joyce, O.M.I.; Father Florian Jasinski; and Father James Spielman.