New lawsuit reveals Father Joseph Turk as alleged abuser at St. Philomena Parish
Activist and survivor Andre Bisquera to speak of his own abuse and his role in urging Hawaii to pass window legislation
What: At a news conference on Thursday in Honolulu, sexual abuse survivor and activist Andre Bisquera and clergy abuse attorneys Ben Ignacio, Mark Gallagher and Jeff Anderson will:
- Announce the Thursday filing of three additional lawsuits involving four victims under Hawaii’s two-year window of opportunity to file child sex abuse civil lawsuits without regard to a statute of limitations.
- Introduce childhood sexual abuse survivor Andre Bisquera of Honolulu, whose efforts helped spur the Hawaii legislature to pass the Child Victims Act allowing Hawaii victims of childhood sexual abuse a two-year window in which to file civil lawsuits against their abusers and institutions that may have allowed the abuse.
WHEN:
Thursday, June 13, 2013, at 2:00 P.M. (HST)
WHERE:
Ala Moana Hotel
Plumeria Room
410 Atkinson Drive
Honolulu (808.955.4811)
WHO:
Abuse survivor Andre Bisquera, a 37-year old, proud father-to-be, and survivor of child sex abuse by a trusted family member. With his love of the outdoors, Andre’s advocacy began in the Surfrider Foundation, protecting beach access and the ocean he loves to play in, whether that’s surfing, swimming or outrigger paddling. As a client and advisory board member of the Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Andre pushes for greater awareness and acceptance of male survivors of child sex abuse, and most recently, testified on behalf of last year’s Child Sex Abuse bill.
Hawaii Attorney Benjamin Ignacio, who was born in the Philippines and is conversant in the Tagalog language, was raised in Honolulu since the age of four and has over 20 years of experience representing individuals in Hawaii.
Hawaii Attorney Mark Gallagher, an experienced litigator in state courts on Oahu, the Big Island, Kauai and Maui and has over 25 years of experience as an attorney successfully seeking justice and compensation for people in Hawaii.
Attorney Jeff Anderson, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based, internationally known trial lawyer widely recognized as a pioneer in sexual abuse litigation. Anderson has represented thousands of survivors of sexual abuse by authority figures and clergy.
Notes: Copies of the complaints will be available at the news conference and online at: www.AbusedinHawaii.com
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