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COOK COUNTY RECORD

Monday, March 18, 2024

Willow Creek Community Church sued over alleged child sex abuse

Scott rudin

Parents of a minor are suing, claiming their child was subjected to sexual abuse while participating in a church program.

Jane Doe and Jack Doe, as parents and next friends of John Doe, filed a lawsuit Nov. 25 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Willow Creek Community Church and Robert Sobczak Jr., citing battery/sexual child abuse against Sobczak and negligence and negligent supervision against the church.

The unnamed plaintiffs are seeking more than $50,000 in damages and are being represented by Scott H. Rudin, Albert E. Durkin and Danielle F. Dombrow of the Miroballi, Durkin & Rudin LLC.

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs' child participated in the Special Friends program at the Willow Creek Community Church from 2011 to May 2013. The parents claim Sobczak was a volunteer aide in program and engaged in inappropriate sexual contact and conduct with their minor child.

The plaintiffs allege that the church was negligent for retaining Sobczak as an aide when it knew or shown have known of his inappropriate sexual interest in children.

They also claim the church was negligent for failing to monitor Sobczak, implement appropriate policies and procedures, train its personnel, prevent him from sexually abusing their child, adequately investigate him and timely inform members of the church about the allegations.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2013L013472.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Cook County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it represents only one side of the story.

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