LARGE $700,000 WISCONSIN JURY VERDICT FOR TWO SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE!
LARGE $700,000 WISCONSIN JURY VERDICT FOR TWO SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE!
On May 21st, it was reported that a jury awarded Todd Merryfield $225,000 and Troy Merryfield $475,000, as the sexual abuse victims of a Roman Catholic priest when they were boys.
As reported from Wisconsin, a jury there found the Green Bay Catholic Diocese committed fraud when it allowed a priest to continue serving despite rumors of his inappropriate behavior with children.
Todd and Troy Merryfield contended that the diocese knew John Feeney had an inappropriate history with children before he molested both brothers in 1978 when we was employed at a local church.
The media reports that the jury answered this question with a “Yes”: “Was it known to the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay that Father John Feeney was a danger to children on or before May 1978?”
As rep0rted, the brothers then “shared hugs through tears.”
The trial then entered a second phase to address whether an award of punitive damages should also be awarded in the case.
As reported, a Diocese spokesman made the typical Roman Catholic Church claim that the cost of such a compensatory award would be a difficult burden for the diocese to bear. Here in Delaware I always felt that such claims were unfounded and that assets in just the small Delaware diocese alone exceeded $1.7 billion. If Delaware is typical, then this Wisconsin diocese is simply seeking unjustified sympathy by making an unfounded claim of poverty.
Congratulations go to attorneys Jeff Anderson and Mike Finnegan who, with the help of local counsel John Peterson, won this very important Wisconsin verdict against the Archdiocese of Green Bay Wisconsin.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is currently engaged in a questionable bankruptcy filing and perhaps this verdict will help all survivors who may be affected by that church tactic.
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