News

Mar 22, 2016: Survivor Breaks Silence, Files Lawsuit for Abuse by Stephen Adamczak at Children’s Theatre Company

(Minneapolis, MN) – A lawsuit was filed today on behalf of a sexual abuse survivor, Erin Nanasi, in Hennepin County District Court naming Children’s Theatre Company as the defendant. Nanasi was sexually abused by Stephen Adamczak in the early 1980s when she was a student at Children’s Theatre Company. Adamczak worked at Children’s Theatre Company as a Sound Technician, Sound Designer, and Instructor.  Attached and included below is a statement from Erin Nanasi.This is the eighth lawsuit filed on behalf of five sexual abuse survivors since early December 2015 naming Children’s Theatre as…

Mar 08, 2016: Media Advisory: In Hearing Tomorrow, Diocese of Crookston Seeks to Dismiss Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

(Crookston, MN) – Tomorrow at 1:30 PM at the Polk County Justice Center, the Diocese of Crookston will ask the Court to dismiss a lawsuit filed on behalf of a sexual abuse survivor, Doe 19, who was sexually abused as a young boy by Fr. J. Vincent Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald worked as a priest at St. Anne’s in Naytahwaush, MN, where he abused Doe 19. Prior to working at St. Anne’s in the Diocese of Crookston, Fitzgerald also worked at St. Catherine’s parish in Squaw Lake, MN, in the Diocese of Duluth, where he sexually abused another young boy, Bill Weis.

Feb 11, 2016: News Release: Vatican Lifts Suspension of Convicted Sex Offender Fr. Joseph Jeyapaul

(Kochi, India/Crookston, MN) – Bishop Amalraj of the Diocese of Ootacamund, India, announced today that he has lifted the suspension of convicted predator priest, Father Joseph Jeyapaul. Jeyapaul’s suspension was lifted on January 16, 2016 after the Bishop consulted with the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Statement of Jeff AndersonOn behalf of two survivors we have represented, and no doubt countless others Jeyapaul has abused, we are appalled…

Feb 09, 2016: News Release: Jason McLean Named in Fourth Civil Lawsuit

(Minneapolis, MN) – A lawsuit was filed today on behalf of a sexual abuse survivor, Doe 114, in Hennepin County District Court naming Jason McLean, a former Children’s Theatre Company staff member, as the defendant. McLean sexually abused Doe 114 in 1983 when she was a student at Children’s Theatre Company. Throughout his tenure with Children’s Theatre, McLean worked as a company actor, staff member, and teacher.In addition to McLean, other staff members have been accused of sexually abusing students at…

Feb 02, 2016: Diocese of Honolulu Discloses Settlement of Dozens of Child Sexual Abuse Cases

(Honolulu, HI) – On January 14, 2016, the Diocese of Honolulu filed a lawsuit naming First Insurance as a defendant and releasing information pertaining to ongoing negotiations in a court-ordered mediation between survivors of childhood sexual abuse and the Diocese of Honolulu and other parties. This suit disclosed that dozens of lawsuits have been settled since the mediation process began in September 2015. Mark Gallagher of Kailua, working with…

Jan 07, 2016: News Release: May 25, 2016 Claim Deadline Set in Diocese of Duluth Bankruptcy Case

At a hearing today, United States Bankruptcy Judge Robert J. Kressel set a May 25, 2016 deadline for creditors, including survivors of childhood sexual abuse, to confidentially file claims in the Diocese of Duluth bankruptcy case. The decision requires all information about survivors of sexual abuse to be kept strictly confidential. “Any survivors out there who are suffering in silence, blaming themselves, can now confidentially get help and take action,” said attorney Mike Finnegan, “But time is…

Jan 06, 2016: News Release: Third Lawsuit Filed Naming Children’s Theatre, Jason McLean

Children’s Theatre Company,Jason McLean Named in Third Lawsuit (Minneapolis, MN) – A third civil lawsuit was filed today on behalf of Doe 116 in Hennepin County District Court naming the Children’s Theatre Company and Jason McLean as defendants. McLean began sexually abusing Doe 116 in 1981 when she was a young teenager and continued to abuse her for several years. Throughout his tenure with Children’s Theatre, McLean worked as a company actor, staff member, and taught acting classes to students. Today, Doe 116 has courageously filed a claim. She has also decided to publicly come for…

Jan 06, 2016: News Release: Third Lawsuit Filed Naming Children’s Theatre, Jason McLean

(Minneapolis, MN) – A third civil lawsuit was filed today on behalf of Doe 116 in Hennepin County District Court naming the Children’s Theatre Company and Jason McLean as defendants. McLean began sexually abusing Doe 116 in 1981 when she was a young teenager and continued to abuse her for several years. Throughout his tenure with Children’s Theatre, McLean worked as a company actor, staff member, and taught acting classes to students.

Today, Doe 116 has courageously filed a claim. She has also decided to publicly come forward so that the full truth of her story can be known. Her name is Me…