Fr. Philip J. Badame Identified Publicly for the First Time
First Lawsuit Filed Naming Fr. William Lanphear
(Buffalo, NY) – Fourteen more sexual abuse survivors sued the Diocese of Buffalo under the New York Child Victims Act. The lawsuits name 11 alleged perpetrators, including Fr. Philip Badame who is being publicly identified for the first time.
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 August 14, 2019 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. “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.”
Fr. Philip Badame is being named publicly for the first time. Fr. 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, Fr. 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 Fr. William Lanphear. Fr. Lanphear sexually abused AB Doe 137 in approximately 1971 to 1974 while he worked at St. Bernard in Buffalo. Fr. Lanphear also worked at Queen of Martyrs in Cheektowaga, Holy Trinity in Dunkirk and De Sales High School in Lockport.
Additional perpetrators named in the lawsuits include: Fr. Thomas L. Kemp; Fr. Loren G. Nys, S.D.S.; Msgr. Michael Harrington (3 cases); Fr. Donald Becker; Fr. Gerald Collins; Fr. Michael Freeman; Fr. Donald Joyce, O.M.I.; Fr. Florian Jasinski; and Fr. James Spielman.