PHILADELPHIA — A former New York altar boy alleges he was repeatedly abused by one of its priests.
Z.M., filed a complaint in May in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas against the Archdiocese of New York alleging negligence. The defendant removed the case to federal court on June 12.
The plaintiff alleges in his complaint that while an altar boy from 2006 through 2010, he suffered sexual abuse from James Garisto, a Roman Catholic priest and previous pastor of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Parish in Poughkeepsie, New York. According to the suit, Garisto instituted a paid position for Z.M., and other high school-aged boys to serve as altar boys and shortly after began to take him for meals.
Garisto would then sexually abuse them in his parked car, the suit says. The plaintiff claims the abuse took place over a dozen times and also took place at various properties Garisto owned in Philadelphia.
He further claims a St. Peter's Parish employee knew of the abuse and even arranged for accommodations for him and Garisto on various trips. The plaintiff alleges that as a result of his abuse, he suffered depression and heroin addiction and according to his complaint, other victims have come forward to report Garisto's abuse to authorities with Garisto being arrested in May 2022. Z.M., alleges the defendant's negligence for failing to supervise, train or have proper channels for reporting abuse and for not removing priests from ministry who sexually abuse children.
The plaintiff seeks monetary relief of more than $50,000, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Jared Zafran and A.J. Thomson of The Law Offices of Jared S. Zafran LLC in Philadelphia.