Kirstyn Harasyn, an adult who was abused as a minor by a Ham Lake, Minn., youth ministries director, has settled her civil lawsuit against her abuser and the church for which he worked. Today, she speaks out with a powerful statement about the abuse she endured, her journey of recovery and her mission to save other children from being hurt by her abuser and others.
News & Events
NOTICE OF CORRECTION(St. Paul, MN) – Correction by Jeff Anderson & Associates, P.A. concerning Father Marvin Klaers.Information was reported in the Cannon Falls Beacon which is inaccurate regarding the number of people we know about who have accused Father Klaers. Our office represents one survivor who has provided a notice of claim to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis concerning an allegation of sexual abuse as a minor. We represent no other survivors of abuse by Fr. Klaers. We also have not received telephone calls regarding sexual abuse of minors by Fr. Klaers. Co…
(St. Paul, MN) – The names of 17 clergy who have been accused of sexual abuse or misconduct with a minor in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis were released for the first time today. All clergy whose names were released have been identified in notice of claims submitted to the Archdiocese and its insurance carriers. A complete list of all clergy named in the notice of claims is available..
News ReleaseFebruary 11, 201517 Names of Clergy Accused of Sexual Abuse or Misconduct with Minors Publicly Released For the First Time TodayThe names have been submitted in notice of claims to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis (St. Paul, MN) – The names of 17 clergy who have been accused of sexual abuse or misconduct with a minor in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis were released for the first time today. All clergy whose names were released have been identified in notice of claims submitted to the Archdiocese and its insurance carriers. A complete list of all cler…
Media AdvisoryFebruary 3, 2015First Public Nuisance Lawsuit Filed Against the Archdiocese of Chicago Involving Fr. Daniel McCormackThe lawsuit seeks disclosure of the identities and secret documents of all clergy offenders since 1950 (Chicago, IL) – The law firm of Jeff Anderson & Associates, in conjunction with Kerns, Frost & Pearlman, filed a lawsuit today on behalf of a man, John Doe 239, who was sexually abused by Father Daniel McCormack at St. Agatha parish in Chicago. The lawsuit names the Archdiocese of Chicago as the defendant and alleges the Archdiocese created a pub…
(St. Paul, MN) – Ramsey County District Court Judge John H. Guthmann Tuesday ordered the Defendants in the Doe 30 lawsuit to produce all records pertaining to sexual abuse reported to have been committed by any priest before 1978. The secret documents will be produced to Doe 30 under seal as a result of a protective …
On January 21, 2015 a civil lawsuit was filed in Nassau County, New York on behalf of a young woman who alleges she was sexually abused by Father Gregory Yacyshyn when she was a young parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Greenlawn, New York. Defendants in the lawsuit include the Diocese of Rockville Centre and Father Gregory Yacyshyn.
(St. Paul, MN) – At a hearing today, United States Bankruptcy Judge Robert J. Kressel ordered survivors, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and the insurance companies, over objections from the insurance companies, to mediation for resolution of all current and future claims. The mediation was ordered before Judge Arthur Boylan, a respected and former federal magistrate, now a professional mediator who was instrumental in settling the NFL dispute….
Media AdvisoryJanuary 20, 2014Hearing Today on Public Nuisance Claim Involving the Diocese of New Ulm Survivors, advocates pursue transparency, disclosure from the only Minnesota diocese yet to disclose the identities of clerics accused of child sexual abuse(New Ulm, MN) – At a hearing today at 3:00PM in New Ulm at the Brown County Courthouse, attorneys will argue on behalf of sexual abuse survivors to allow public nuisance claims to move forward that were alleged in several lawsuits filed against the New Ulm Diocese. Five lawsuits have been filed on behalf of seven survivors a…
At a news conference today in St. Paul, attorneys Jeff Anderson and Mike Finnegan will discuss today’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
News ReleaseJanuary 13, 2015Doe 29 Lawsuit Names Boy Scouts of America, Northern Star Council, River Hills United Methodist Church and Scoutmaster Peter StibalSystemic Failure of Boy Scouts, Council and Church to Act on Red Flags Regarding Stibal’s Danger to Boys; Perversion Files Demonstrate Their Knowledge of Risk(St. Paul, MN) – A civil lawsuit was filed today in Ramsey County by a former Boy Scout who was sexually abused by his Scoutmaster, Peter Stibal. The lawsuit names Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Northern Star Council, River Hills United Methodist Church – the troop’s char…
On January 12, 2015, Marie Mielke (Doe 20), courageously came forward to publicly discuss her sexual abuse at the hands of Michael Keating and how top officials at the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis mishandled the case between 2006 and 2013. Keating’s once secret priest file was also released to the public. In it, internal church documents show how church officials, especially Father Kevin McDonough, chose to protect Keating over Marie and other survivors. Key documents from Keating’s file, the Amended Complaint, and other pertinent documents and statements are posted below. …
Media AdvisoryJanuary 9, 2015 Doe 20 to Speak Publicly Monday of Abuse by Father Michael Keating Using Her Name and Telling Her Story Keating’s once-secret priest file to be publicly released for the first time WHAT: At a news conference Monday January 12, 2015 a sexual abuse survivor of Father Michael Keating, Doe 20, along with her attorney Jeff Anderson will:• Speak publicly about the sexual abuse she endured at the hands of Father Keating and her experience in reporting the abuse to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Doe 20 wants the truth to be k…