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Recent News

4/25/2008

Priest loses abuse lawsuit

By Jon Murray

A Marion Superior Court jury on Thursday awarded a Greene County man $155,000 in damages in his sexual abuse lawsuit against a priest.

The man, now 21, said during this week's trial that he was touched or fondled by the Rev. Jonathan L. Stewart twice, the first time when he was 6.

At the time, Stewart -- the boy's relative -- was serving at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Milan, but the alleged abuse occurred at the boy's home.

Stewart has denied the abuse claims. The Greene County prosecutor did not file charges, and the family filed the lawsuit in 2004.

"This was never about money," said Pat Noaker, who represented the plaintiff along with state Rep. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, an attorney. The jury's finding "was more about accountability. There are no winners."

The Indianapolis Star generally does not identify the victims of sexual abuse.

Three hours of deliberation by the six-member jury ended the three-day trial in Judge David Dreyer's courtroom. The jury awarded $5,000 in compensatory damages and $150,000 in punitive damages.

The plaintiff also sued the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, but that case was dismissed before trial through an agreement because Stewart was not serving in his official role at the boy's home. The archdiocese paid no settlement beyond compensation for counseling bills, following its policy for any abuse claim.

Stewart has worked in restricted ministry since the allegations came to light in 2001.

Jeff Anderson & Associates, P.A.
366 Jackson Street, Suite 100
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: 651-227-9990
Fax: 651-297-6543

8/22/08
Exhibit A Non-Monetary Commitments by the Diocese

8/22/08
Bishop Signs Priest Abuse Settlement
A settlement is now official for 47 victims who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of their own priests

8/22/08
Mom wants cardinal to quit
Reading her Sun-Times last week, Diane Houston lingered over a prison photo of the Rev. Norbert Maday, his mug shot showing the convicted sex abuser with a black eye and a swollen lip.

8/19/08
Tentative settlement reached in KC priest abuse cases
The Catholic Diocese in Kansas City and more than 40 victims of clergy sexual abuse tentatively agreed late Tuesday to settle lawsuits against the church for about $10 million.

8/14/08
Last known contact info for offenders in Chicago Settlement

8/14/08
Victim, cop slam archdiocese's efforts to get priest out of prison early
A victim of sex-abusing priest Norbert Maday and the detective who helped put the clergyman behind bars said Wednesday they were appalled and disheartened by efforts by the Archdiocese of Chicago to spring Maday from prison.

8/13/08
Victim was 7 when abused by priest
Less than a year ago, Therese Albrecht wanted to kill herself.

8/13/08
Cardinal tried to spring sex abuser, then changed view
Cardinal Francis George acknowledged Tuesday that he and other Archdiocese of Chicago officials had worked to reduce the prison sentence of sex-abusing priest Norbert Maday, who is believed to have molested children dozens of times.

8/13/08
Cardinal lifts the veil on abuses
George announces $12.7 million payout to victims of priest attacks, discloses his sworn deposition and says: 'I have to accept the blame'

8/12/08
Archdiocese Announces $12.6M Sex Abuse Settlement
The Archdiocese of Chicago said Tuesday it will to pay more than $12.6 million to settle lawsuits by 16 victims of sexual abuse by priests

8/12/08
depo transcript of Cardinal George

8/12/08
Cardinal George Exhibits Part 1 of 2

8/12/08
Cardinal George Exhibits Part 2 of 2

7/30/08
Attorney Jeff Anderson Sues the Hell Out of Clerical Sex Abusers
St. Paul, MN: Attorney Jeff Anderson is a genuine firebrand. He has handled not hundreds, but thousands of cases on behalf of sexual abuse survivors across the US, and even outside the US over the last 25 years.

7/21/08
New Sex Abuse Lawsuit for Denver Archdiocese
Another man filed a lawsuit Monday against the Archdiocese of Denver alleging he was abused by a priest at a church in Loveland about 40 years ago.

7/3/2008
Former Somerset priest indicted
Cote faces sexual abuse charges in Maryland

7/2/2008
Denver Archdiocese to Pay $5.5 Million in Abuse Suits
After nearly three years of litigation, the Archdiocese of Denver said Tuesday that it would pay $5.5 million to settle more than a dozen lawsuits over sexual abuse by priests.

7/2/2008
Time line Regarding Harold White and the Archdiocese of Denver

7/2/2008
Denver settlement - all documents on White

7/2/2008
Archdiocese of Denver settlement - hot documents

7/2/2008
Denver Archdiocese Settles Priest Sex-abuse Lawsuits
The archdiocese of Denver has agreed to pay $5.5 million to settle 18 claims of sexual abuse against its priests in incidents that happened between 1954 and 1981.

5/1/2008
Judge approves compensation for church sex-abuse victims
A federal bankruptcy Judge on Wednesday approved a plan to give $37 million plus non-monetary compensation to victims of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the Catholic Diocese of Davenport.

4/25/2008
Priest loses abuse lawsuit
Jury awards $155,000 in civil case brought against clergyman by family of young relative.

4/10/2008
Hearing in lawsuit against Catholic Diocese of Green Bay set for July
Former Freedom priest convicted in two 1978 assaults.

4/9/2008
Mom & lawyers unexpectedly confront predator priest on NYC sidewalk
New lawsuit says Catholic cleric molested 2 pre-school boys in 2005
He was already on suspension for sexually assaulting a different child in DC
Parents and co-workers warned church officials about predator at least 20 years earlier.

3/27/2008
Payton Prep basketball coach charged with sexual assault
A basketball coach at Walter Payton College Prep faces criminal sexual assault charges over alleged incidents with two 15-year-old female students at
the school.

3/27/2008
Complaint against the Boy Scouts of America.

3/17/2008
Priest-abuse suit can be heard, Illinois appeals court rules
In a decision that may aid victims of childhood sexual abuse, an Illinois Appellate Court has ruled that an Illinois man who waited 19 years to sue a
priest over alleged sexual abuse can have his day in court.

3/16/2008
Prosser rescues himself from cases involving Catholic churches
Justice withheld Feeney charges as Outagamie DA

3/5/2008
School sued over teen's sexual abuse
The parents of a teenage girl who was sexually abused by her high school track and volleyball coach have sued the teacher and the school district, claiming
school officials were negligent.

2/4/2008
Justice Prosser's link to priest case assailed
As DA in '79, he decided not to prosecute, records indicate