Roderick "Eric" MacLeish (born October 31, 1952)[1] is a lawyer known for representing hundreds of sexual abuse victims in the Boston area during the Catholic priest sexual abuse scandal[2] while he was a Boston-based partner of Greenberg Traurig, a Miami-based law firm. His clients included those abused by Paul Shanley.[3]

Abuse cases

MacLeish started representing victims of clergy abuse in 1992 in a case involving former Fall River Priest James Porter, who was accused of molesting 68 children in southeastern Massachusetts and ultimately sent to prison.[4]

After the priest abuse cases, MacLeish stopped practicing law. He returned in 2011 and took on cases involving inadequate patient care at Bridgewater State Hospital where patients had been sent to prolonged solitary confinement in violation of state law. MacLeish won a preliminary injunction in 2014 and went on to settle a class action lawsuit in 2014.[5]

In 2015, MacLeish reconnected with a former sex abuse client who had been sexually abused at St. George's School, which MacLeish had attended. MacLeish and his client attempted to have the school name the abuser, former athletic trainer Al Gibbs, and send a letter to alumni. When the school resisted, the client went public in The Boston Globe.[6] More victims came forward and the school ultimately agreed to a well-publicized settlement.[7]

MacLeish has continued to represent victims of sexual abuse at private schools, camps and other institutions since the St. George's case. Commencing in 2019, MacLeish began representing victims of domestic violence in restraining order cases without charging a fee.

In January 2002, MacLeish started the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund, the only charity in New England to assist those who had lost loved ones in the September 11 attacks. Under MacLeish's leadership, the Fund raised millions of dollars for families, arranged social events for families, and provided programs ranging from grief counseling to financial planning.[8] The Fund still exists as of 2016, and MacLeish spoke at the Massachusetts State House on the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11.[9]

Education

A graduate of Vassar College, he went on to graduate cum laude from the Boston University School of Law in 1978.,[2][10]

Career

MacLeish clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Joseph L. Tauro. From 2002 to 2004, he was the lead counsel when his law firm represented over 300 people in the Boston priest scandal.[2] He also represented a claimant that they were sexually abused by a Milton Academy teacher.[11]

He has been representing people who allege sexual abuse at St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island.[12]

The National Law Journal once name him one of the top trial attorneys in the US.[13] In 2016, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly named MacLeish a "Lawyer of the Year" for his work on behalf of sexual abuse victims in private schools.[14]

He began teaching at Plymouth State University in 2006 before returning to the practice of law in 2011.

Personal life

His father was political commentator Roderick MacLeish and he has a sister, Sumner MacLeish.[15] His grandmother was opera singer and translator Rosamond Young Chapin.[16][17]

His former psychologist lost her professional license after having a sexual relationship with him.[18]

In the movie Spotlight, MacLeish was portrayed by Billy Crudup. He has claimed he was portrayed inaccurately.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "REEL V/S REAL". Grassroots Journalis. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 LLC, Sullivan+Wolf Design. "About Us". Sullivan+Wolf Design, LLC.
  3. ↑ Lyons, Daniel. "Sex, God & Greed". Forbes.
  4. ↑ "Father Porter: Remembering the evil". 13 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "Tentative deal reached in 2d Bridgewater hospital lawsuit - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  6. ↑ "Former student forces R.I. Prep school to confront its past - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  7. ↑ "Elite R.I. Private school and abuse accusers settle - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  8. ↑ "Board of Directors".
  9. ↑ "Sept. 11 ceremonies to be held at Mass. Statehouse". 9 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "Eric MacLeish :: Cambridge Litigation Attorney Clark, Hunt, Ahern & Embry". www.chelaw.com.
  11. ↑ "Milton Academy Abuse Admissions". 22 February 2017.
  12. ↑ Seelye, Katherine Q. (January 5, 2016). "40 Alumni Assert Sexual Abuse at a Rhode Island Prep School". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  13. ↑ English, Bella (18 April 2010). "The hole in the heart of a star". Boston.com – via The Boston Globe.
  14. ↑ https://masslawyersweekly.com/files/2017/01/LOY2017.pdf
  15. ↑ Bernstein, Adam (July 4, 2006). "Political Commentator Rod MacLeish, 80". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "Isolde Chapin Obituary". The Washington Post, via Legacy.com. 2010. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  17. ↑ "Rosamond Y. Chapin". The New York Times. 1984-08-15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  18. ↑ "Psychologist withdraws SJC appeal on license - CommonWealth Magazine". 24 August 2011.
  19. ↑ Shanahan, Mark (November 10, 2015). "Lawyer hasn't seen 'Spotlight' — but objects to his portrayal". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 6 January 2018.


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