THE CASE — BACKGROUND

St. Ann Elementary School

St. Ann Elementary School and Parish, located at 2211 W. 18th Place in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, is a Catholic school operated under the Archdiocese of Chicago. Founded in 1903 by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the school served a PreK–8th grade population of approximately 300 children. The parish church closed in 2018, though the school remains open today as part of St. Paul Parish.

At least one priest who served at St. Ann has been identified on the Archdiocese of Chicago’s list of clergy with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor, and the parish has been the subject of multiple civil lawsuits. Fr. John “Jack” Keehan served as head pastor from 1991 until approximately 2002, allegedly abusing at least four former students during that period — the most victims documented at any single parish in his assignment history. At least eight individuals have come forward reporting abuse by Keehan.

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ALLEGATIONS & TIMELINE

What the Records Show

June 2024 — GGH Law and Levy Konigsberg filed a fourth lawsuit against the Archdiocese on behalf of a former St. Ann’s student, identified as John Doe 4. The complaint describes Keehan as an 8th known victim overall and details his practice of directing principals and teachers to send children to the church or rectory unsupervised. GGH attorneys Martin Gould, Mike Grieco, Bryce Hensley, and co-counsel Valerie Letko represent the plaintiff.
April 2024 — GGH Law filed a second lawsuit on behalf of a third former St. Ann’s student, identified as John Doe 2. He is the 6th known victim to report abuse by Keehan. The lawsuit notes the Archdiocese did not report any allegations to DCFS, law enforcement, or the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office until 2002 — approximately ten years after first receiving written notice.
April 2024 — A separate lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court alleged Keehan repeatedly abused an altar boy at St. Ann’s between 1994 and 1997. The complaint alleges the Archdiocese knew of his history and failed to supervise or remove him despite that knowledge.
May 2023 — The Illinois Attorney General’s report identified Fr. John James Keehan as a substantiated child sex abuser within the Archdiocese of Chicago. His assignment record lists St. Ann from 1991 to 2004. The AG report covers 451 Catholic clerics across all six Illinois dioceses.
1993 — The Archdiocese’s Professional Fitness Review Board determined there was at least one “credible” allegation of child sexual abuse involving Keehan and concluded he was too dangerous to ever be left alone with minors. The Archdiocese did not remove him from St. Ann’s.
1991–2004 — Keehan served as Head Pastor at St. Ann School and Parish. During this period, at least four former students alleged he sexually abused them. He directed school principals and teachers to send children out of class to “help” him at the church or rectory, where the abuse occurred. Parents, parishioners, and school staff were never informed of his documented history.
1967 — Keehan was ordained by the Archdiocese of Chicago. Allegations of abuse at his first assignment, St. Basil Parish, begin in this year. He served at at least nine parishes and schools before arriving at St. Ann’s.

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 Minors

Fr. John Keehan allegedly sexually abused children at St. Ann Elementary School and Parish across more than a decade. At least eight individuals have come forward. The Archdiocese’s own review board had confirmed the danger he posed as early as 1993.

Negligent Supervision & Retention

The Archdiocese of Chicago received written notice of allegations against Keehan and allowed him to remain as head pastor of an elementary school with approximately 300 children for nearly a decade after that notice.

Failure to Warn

Parents, parishioners, and school staff at St. Ann’s were never informed of Keehan’s documented history of abuse.

Institutional Cover-up

The Archdiocese did not report any allegations against Keehan to DCFS, law enforcement, or the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office until 2002, approximately ten years after first receiving written notice of abuse.

Named Defendants

Who Is Being Investigated

Father John James Keehan

Ordained 1967, Archdiocese of Chicago. Served as Head Pastor at St. Ann Elementary School and Parish, Pilsen, Chicago, from 1991 until approximately 2002. Removed from public ministry June 2002 and placed at the Cardinal Stritch Retreat. Named in multiple civil lawsuits filed in Cook County Circuit Court beginning 2024. Identified on the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 list of clergy with substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse.

Archdiocese of Chicago

The Archdiocese of Chicago is named as a defendant in all civil lawsuits related to Fr. Keehan’s alleged abuse at St. Ann’s. The Archdiocese’s own Professional Fitness Review Board determined in 1993 that Keehan posed too significant a danger to ever be left alone with minors. Despite this finding, the Archdiocese allowed him to remain as head pastor of St. Ann’s for nearly a decade.

Your Attorneys

GGH Is Fighting for Families Like Yours

If you or someone you know was abused by clergy at St. Ann Elementary School, St. Ann Parish, or any other Catholic institution in Illinois, you may have legal options. This includes abuse at St. Ann Elementary School or Parish and claims from family members of survivors.

GGH Law’s consultations are completely free and confidential. We work on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we win.

Your Legal Team

Clergy Il: St. Ann Elementary School - Gould Grieco &Amp; Hensley

GOULD GRIECO & HENSLEY

Martin Gould | Mike Grieco | Bryce Hensley

Gould Grieco & Hensley is a national personal injury firm representing survivors in civil cases involving clergy sexual abuse and institutional accountability.

You never pay out of pocket.

WE WORK ON CONTINGENCY
NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN

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You only pay if we secure compensation.

Questions Survivors Are Asking

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

GGH Law has filed multiple lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Chicago on behalf of survivors of Fr. Keehan’s alleged abuse at St. Ann’s. The firm represents survivors on a contingency basis — no fee unless we win.

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.

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