Rebecca Rhoades

Attorney

rrhoades@manlystewart.com

Practice Area

Business, Criminal Law, Personal Injury Litigation and Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse

Education:

University of California, Berkeley (BA); Chapman University School of Law (JD)

Admissions:

State Bar of California; United States Federal District Court, Central

Professional Biography

Since graduating magna cum laude from Chapman University Law School, Ms. Rhoades has focused on representing victims in civil actions regarding sexual harassment, exploitation, molestation and abuse in an array of settings.

She has successfully litigated against large religious organizations throughout the United States, and at all court levels, helping victims of abuse hold these religious institutions accountable for their wrongdoing. Through her arguments at the Supreme Court level, Ms. Rhoades has helped to define the responsibility and accountability that these organizations must hold for abuses committed by their employees.

Ms. Rhoades has briefed and argued before the Supreme Court of South Dakota in an ongoing battle to protect the rights of Native Americans who were abused as children in Catholic Boarding Schools in the state. She believes that these religious institutions must be held accountable for the sexual abuse that they permitted within their ranks.

Ms. Rhoades has extensive experience in bankruptcy law in the context of Roman Catholic Dioceses and religious orders. She has represented numerous clients in the Diocese of San Diego, Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska, Diocese of Wilmington and Society of Jesus, Oregon Province bankruptcies.

While she is primarily focused on representing victims of abuse, Ms. Rhoades practice also involves:

Marsy's Law representation of victim-witnesses in criminal proceedings
Consultation on sexual abuse matters throughout the United States
Participation in community outreach and training
Advocacy for changes to legislation for the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

Ms. Rhoades has been a featured legal commentator on sexual abuse issues in television, radio and print media.

Published Decisions

Iron Wing v. Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls et al (2011) 2011 S.D. 79
R.B.O. et al. v. Priests of the Sacred Heart, et al. (2011) 2011 S.D. 86
R.B.O. et al. v. (the) Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, et al. (2011) 2011 S.D. 87

Notable Cases

Ms. Rhoades has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of her clients. Here is a representative sample of her trial and arbitration experience:

In Re: The Clergy Cases I (JCCP No.: 4286), (2007) Los Angeles Superior Court

Participation in and consummation of $660 million global settlement of 508 sexual abuse claims

John TZ Doe v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Stockton, et al., (2012) San Joaquin County Superior Court

$3.75 million settlement against Diocese of Stockton after 10-week trial

Does v. Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus (2011) Superior Court, State of Alaska, Fourth Judicial District at Bethel

Consummation of $125 thousand settlement on behalf multiple clients alleging sexual abuse by Father Francis Nawn

John TS Doe v. Doe 1, et al. (2011) Los Angeles County Superior Court

Consummation of $335 thousand settlement on behalf of victim alleging childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a notorious priest of the Carmelite Religious Order.

Society of Jesus, Oregon Province Bankruptcy (2011) United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Oregon

Participation in and consummation of $162.8 million global settlement of more than150 claimants in case involving 500 sexual abuse claims

Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska Bankruptcy (2010) Unites States Bankruptcy Court, District of Alaska

Consummation of $15.4 million global settlement of more than 100 separate sexual abuse claims against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks

John Doe v. Doe 1, et al. (2009) Monterey County Superior Court

Consummation of $1.2 million settlement against the Diocese of Monterey

110 Separate Actions Against the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, (2007) Various Superior Courts in the State of Alaska

Consummation of $50 million global settlement of 110 separate sexual abuse claims against the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province.

Jane CR Doe v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, et al.; Jane ALS Doe v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, et al.; Jane KE Doe v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, et al.; Jane A. Doe v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, et al., (2007) Orange County Superior Court

Consummation of $6.7 million global settlement of four high-profile cases in Orange County

In Re: The Clergy Cases II (JCCP No.: 4297), (2007) San Diego Superior Court

Participation in, and consummation of $198 million global settlement of 144 sexual abuse claims during the sixth month of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding

John PJ Doe v. Doe 1, et al., (2006) Alameda Superior Court

$700 thousand settlement on behalf of victim who was abused in a Roman Catholic High School in the 1970s

In re: Krever (2011) Henrico County Circuit Court

Consummation of mediated confidential settlement in a wrongful death action arising out of a fatal car crash in Richmond, Virginia.

Personal Biography

After completing high school, Ms. Rhoades completed her undergraduate education at the University of California at Berkeley, graduating with High Honors and a B.A. in English in 2000.

Thereafter, Ms. Rhoades attended Chapman University School of Law, where she served as a Staff Editor for the Chapman University Law Review. During her second year at Chapman, Rebecca externed for the Honorable Stephen J. Reinhardt, Federal Appellate Judge for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Rebecca earned her J.D. from Chapman University School of Law in 2004, graduating 4^th in her class, magna cum laude.

Prior to joining Manly & Stewart, Ms. Rhoades worked as an associate attorney at Soltan and Associates for three years, specializing in corporate law, complex civil litigation, class actions, shareholder derivative suits and clergy sexual abuse.

Ms. Rhoades is admitted to the State Bar of California as well as the United States Federal District Court, Central. Ms. Rhoades has also been admitted pro hac vice in State and Federal courts in Alaska, South Dakota and Oregon.