Friday, May 06, 2005
EMAIL FROM DR. BOND
PRESS RELEASE
RE: Settlement of Sexual Molestation Suit
Date: May 5, 2005
From the Law Office of James Bendell
The defendants in the case of Doe vs. Diocese of Scranton, the Society of St. John, the Fraternity of St. Peter and Fr. Carlos Urrutigoity and Fr. Eric Ensey (U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Case No. 3 CV 02-0444) have agreed to a settlement with the plaintiff, a former student of St. Gregory’s Academy in Moscow, Pennsylvania.
Under the terms of the settlement the defendants will pay the plaintiff $255,000 in cash and future periodic payments of $199,550, for a total settlement of $454,550.
During the course of the litigation of this case, information was brought to light concerning the corruption existing at the Society of St. John, a clerical association approved by former bishop James Timlin, who allowed these priests to form a clerical association in the Diocese of Scranton and to act as chaplains at a boys’ prep school after they had been expelled from the Society of St. Pius X. The new bishop of Scranton, Joseph Martino, has since suppressed the Society of St. John.
This large financial settlement is a vindication of the courageous young man who brought this case.
The plaintiff was represented by attorneys James Bendell of Washington State, and Harry Coleman of Pennsylvania.
Contact: James Bendell
(360) 379-5221
bendell@cablespeed.com
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Crux News has linked a Times Leader story on the settlement in which Bendell is reported to have said:
Though the settlement and court dismissal mean there will be no legal decision on the case, Bendell said “I think a settlement of this size is basically an admission that the allegations are true.”
