Jury Awards Historic $16 Million Verdict to Survivor Sexually Abused by Infamous Diocese of Oakland Priest
“This is a triumph of truth, courage, and a breakthrough for survivors who have long been silenced by the Catholic Bishop of Oakland.” – Jeff Anderson
(Oakland, CA) – Today, in Alameda County Superior Court, a jury reached a verdict in a civil case brought by survivor, John Doe OK 1022, who was sexually abused as a child by a Diocese of Oakland priest, Fr. Stephen Kiesle, in the 1970s. After deliberating, the jury awarded $16 million in damages.
“This is a case about accountability, it’s about justice. It’s about John Doe OK 1022 finding his voice and regaining his power. We stand with him on this momentous day.” – Rick Simons, lead trial lawyer for Doe
This verdict, emerging from the Diocese of Oakland’s bankruptcy proceedings, marks a huge step for survivors as the first case to reach a jury verdict under the California Child Victims Act and from the Bishop’s efforts to escape accountability by filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
“Today’s verdict reflects years of resilience and determination, driven by an unwavering pursuit of truth and justice. This moment belongs not only to John Doe OK 1022, but to every survivor who has stood up and spoken up.” – Jeff Anderson
Fr. Stephen Kiesle is a notorious child predator in the Diocese of Oakland who was arrested in 1978 for molesting children. However, Kiesle was not removed from the priesthood until 1987 and was charged with 13 counts of child molestation in 2004. Kiesle is identified in 60 lawsuits filed under the California Child Victims Act, and John Doe OK 1022 is the first to hold the Oakland Bishop, and any Bishop in California, accountable in court.