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Were you abused by Father Gerald Simonelli?

FATHER GERALD SIMONELLI SEXUAL ABUSE LAWYERS

GGH Law represents survivors of sexual abuse by Father Gerald Simonelli in the Diocese of Joliet. Speak with our team in a free, confidential consultation about your legal options. SEE IF YOUR CASE QUALIFIES

Confidential • No fee unless we win

THE CASE — BACKGROUND

Father Gerald Simonelli

Father Gerald J. Simonelli was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois in 1990. During his ministry he served at St. Mary in West Chicago, St. Dominic in Bolingbrook, St. Petronille in Glen Ellyn, St. Andrew the Apostle in Romeoville, St. Joseph in Addison, and St. Isidore in Bloomingdale.

Legal Help For Survivors

WERE YOU OR A LOVED ONE ABUSED BY
CLERGY IN ILLINOIS?

ALLEGATIONS & TIMELINE

What the Records Show

Legal Claims

What GGH Law Is Investigating

GGH Law is investigating civil claims on behalf of survivors. The following claims are central to the investigation.

Clergy Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Father Simonelli allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a minor during his ministry in the Diocese of Joliet, as substantiated by the Diocese and documented in the Illinois AG’s 2023 Report.

Negligent Supervision & Retention

The Diocese of Joliet is alleged to have failed to adequately supervise Simonelli and protect children in its care during the period of alleged abuse.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty

The Diocese of Joliet owed a duty of care to children in its parishes. That duty was allegedly breached by failing to identify, investigate, and act on warning signs.

Named Defendants

Who Is Being Investigated

Father Gerald J. Simonelli

Ordained 1990, Diocese of Joliet. Served at multiple Illinois parishes. Removed from ministry 2010. Laicized 2020. Included in the Illinois AG’s 2023 Report and on the Diocese of Joliet’s substantiated allegations list.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet

The Diocese substantiated the allegation against Simonelli and placed him on its public list.

Your Attorneys

GGH Is Fighting for Families Like Yours

If you or someone you love was harmed due to negligence at a Catholic parish, school, or other Diocese-affiliated institution in Illinois, you may have legal options. GGH Law represents survivors in civil cases involving negligence, failure to supervise, and failure to disclose incidents of alleged abuse or harm.

Institutions have a legal duty to protect those in their care. When they fail to properly screen clergy, ignore warning signs, or conceal incidents of harm, they can be held accountable. The same applies to the Diocese itself — when a central authority oversees a network of parishes and schools, it also shares responsibility for ensuring those locations are safe.

 

Experienced Attorneys

Clergy Il: Father Gerald Simonelli - Gould Grieco &Amp; Hensley

GOULD GRIECO & HENSLEY
INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE LITIGATION TEAM
Gould Grieco & Hensley is a national personal injury firm that represents survivors in high-stakes institutional accountability cases, including this clergy sex abuse investigation.

You never pay out of pocket.

WE WORK ON CONTINGENCY
NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN

You only pay if we secure compensation.

Questions Survivors Are Asking

Frequently Asked Questions

Father Gerald J. Simonelli was ordained in 1990 for the Diocese of Joliet. He was removed from ministry in 2010 and laicized in 2020. The Illinois AG's 2023 Report lists him with at least one reported survivor.
The Diocese substantiated an allegation that Simonelli engaged in sexual conduct with a minor. The alleged abuse occurred between 2006 and 2008.
Possibly yes. Illinois has significantly expanded its statutes of limitation for childhood sexual abuse claims in recent years. GGH Law can evaluate your situation in a free, confidential consultation.
No. GGH Law handles these cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win. Your consultation is completely free and confidential.
ACCOUNTABLITY FOR SURVIVORS:
THE GGH ADVANDAGE
Gould Grieco & Hensley (GGH) is a prestigious, boutique national personal injury firm that serves as a relentless advocate for victims of abuse and catastrophic injuries. Recognized as "Innovators of Law," the firm combines world-class legal expertise with state-of-the-art technology—including agile project management and cutting-edge trial techniques—to secure unprecedented results against the world’s largest institutional defendants. With a proven track record that includes global settlements exceeding $2 billion and individual verdicts surpassing $550 million, their award-winning attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis to ensure justice is accessible without upfront costs. From the courtroom to features in The New York Times and Forbes, Gould Grieco and Hensley remains dedicated to turning strategic precision and aggressive litigation into life-changing outcomes for their clients.