Noteboom – The Law Firm won $124 million in damages for our client, a woman who was sexually assaulted as a child by a Fort Worth pastor. The verdict was handed down from a Tarrant County jury and sends a powerful message to the community that such abuse will not be tolerated. Jose Francisco Bernal is the sixty-year old former pastor at Tabernaculo de Vida-Iglesia Pentecostal Church in Fort Worth. He was arrested and indicted for sexually assaulting two girls in the church in 2017. The victims reported that Bernal sexually assaulted them repeatedly over the course of at least seven years. The sexual abuse began when the woman was only seven years old.
The case is discussed further below, as well as in this video:
The victim recalled Bernal sexually assaulting her and her sister in their house, the church office, and the church sanctuary audio booth. Bernal was charged with two felony counts of continuous sexual assault of a child, but the criminal case ended in a mistrial in 2022. Adriana Jaimes and her sister, the victims of Bernal, sought justice through a civil lawsuit in 2023 after the case was dropped by prosecutors. Adriana and her sister were awarded the church property and $100,000 in a settlement. Chuck Noteboom attorney Brian Butcher helped Adriana celebrate by hanging a sign on the closed church door that read “closed due to pastor being a pedophile – under new management.”
The jury awarded Adriana $124 million in damages and includes $11 million for past mental anguish, $20 million for future mental anguish, and $93 million for exemplary damages. Chuck, Brian, and the rest of our firm understood the importance of this case. We asked for a large verdict to demonstrate to the community that clergy abuse is unacceptable and “to protect other children and to help restore trust in church institutions by holding somebody accountable for doing despicable things and using God’s name to do it.” Our firm encourages any other victims of Jose Francisco Bernal to come forward and report to the authorities.
At Noteboom – The Law Firm, we recognize the courage it takes for survivors of sexual abuse to seek justice. Adriana Jaimes was afraid to come forward for years because of the fear of her life being “flipped upside down.” We are a law firm based in Fort Worth and we practice solely in the area of personal injury law. Survivors of any type of abuse should not have to face their abusers alone or without a strong voice, and we are committed to helping victims through each step of the legal process.
Our firm is unique because of the level of personal attention we provide. We keep a light caseload to help ensure each client receives the best possible representation. We work closely with survivors, their families, and expert witnesses to fight aggressively for the justice and compensation they deserve. We will prepare you about what to expect during a case and maintain thorough communication throughout the entire process.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of clergy or someone else, we are here to help. Take the first step in reporting the abuse by reaching out to our office today to speak with an attorney. Noteboom – The Law Firm has been trusted in the community as a fierce advocate for justice and rightful compensation since 1982. Our experienced team of legal professionals will listen to the details of your situation and advocate for you in and out of court. We are not afraid of fighting for you at trial. Contact us by phone at 817.282.9700 or contact us online if you need assistance. We offer our services to those in Forth Worth, Dallas, and all of Texas.