I praise Chicago Judge Jeffrey Lawrence for his latest order and commend him for acknowledging the hurt and destruction caused by Jesuit officials in their cover-up of Fr. Donald McGuire’s predatory actions. Judge Lawrence ruled yesterday that survivors John Doe 117, John Doe 118, and John Doe 129, all of whom were sexually abused by Fr. McGuire as minors, can seek punitive damages in their lawsuit against the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus. Greater than actual damages, which account for a plaintiff’s losses from harm caused by the defendant, punitive damages are int…
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I praise Chicago Judge Jeffrey Lawrence for his latest order and commend him for acknowledging the hurt and destruction caused by Jesuit officials in their cover-up of Fr. Donald McGuire’s predatory actions. Judge Lawrence ruled yesterday that survivors John Doe 117, John Doe 118, and John Doe 129, all of whom were sexually abused by Fr. McGuire as minors, can seek punitive damages in their lawsuit against the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus.
A prominent clergy abuse attorney filed a lawsuit today in the Circuit Court of Nodaway County claiming that, in 1987, the Conception Abbey in Conception, Missouri, exposed a minor child to a priest who they knew had previously had sexual contact with minors, which resulted in the sexual abuse of the child. The child, now an adult and the plaintiff in the lawsuit, is identified in the complaint as John Doe 181 and lives in Missouri.
Jeff Anderson, the St. Paul, Minnesota-based clergy abuse attorney, who along with Chicago attorney Marc Pearlman represents the Plaintiffs, said “the justification for punitive damages in the case was based on Jesuits officials having been aware of McGuire’s sexual predatory behavior over a 40 year period but still allowed him to have free reign with access to children and we are very pleased that the judge agreed.”
In an agreement reached today by the Creditor Committee and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, creditors will have until February, 2012 to file claims against the Archdiocese.
In an effort to hold Catholic Church officials accountable for their blatant international movement of priests known to be sexual predators, four former Humboldt County, California altar boys filed new lawsuits today naming the Archdiocese of Dublin, Ireland, and the Servants of the Paraclete, as defendants.
Three victims of child sexual abuse committed by Lutheran Pastor Frank Brundige filed lawsuits today detailing abuse committed by Brundige from 1990 until 2007 when he was arrested and convicted of molesting children. The lawsuits describe multiple complaints and warnings about Brundige abusing children that were ignored by Lutheran Church officials.
Complaint 1 against San Pedro Y Pablo Lutheran Church in Bell Gardens, Brundige
Complaint 2 against San Pedro Y Pablo Lutheran Church in Bell Gardens, Brundige
When the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced yesterday yet another meeting to address the clergy sex abuse crisis, I was once again discouraged to hear that top church officials continue to talk, plan, and promise change in their policies but avoid taking action toward solving the problem.
Jun 15, 2011: Press Release: Tribal court awards victim of Vice Lord beating $4.2 million in damages
Cody St. John, a Mille Lacs Band of Ojibewa Indian, who in 2006 when he 22 years-old and refused to join the Vice Lords gang, was beaten, dragged and left on a reservation street in sub zero weather, was awarded a civil judgment of $4.2 million by the tribal court against one of his assailants.
Jun 15, 2011: Press Release: Tribal Court Awards Victim of Vice Lord Beating $4.2 Million in Damages
Last week Attorney Pat Noaker and I held a press conference in Kansas City announcing a lawsuit against the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph and Father Shawn Ratigan. The lawsuit accuses Fr. Ratigan and the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph of violating federal child pornography laws after the Diocese discovered child pornography on Ratigan’s computer and did nothing for months. Pat Noaker wrote more about the case in his blog last week.In the decades that I have been bringing cases against officials and various arms of the Catholic Church I’ve found that it is typical for Dio… Last week Attorney Pat Noaker and I held a press conference in Kansas City announcing a lawsuit against the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph and Father Shawn Ratigan. The lawsuit accuses Fr. Ratigan and the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph of violating federal child pornography laws after the Diocese discovered child pornography on Ratigan’s computer and did nothing for months. Pat Noaker wrote more about the case in his blog last week. Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation are morally
reprehensible. Saint John’s Abbey works
honestly and openly with victims of sexual abuse and their attorneys to do all
we can to correct the grievous wrongs that have been committed in the past by
some members of our community.