Wednesday, May. 25, 2011
Supreme Court rejects Belleville Diocese's appeal of $5 million award in priest sex abuse case
BY GEORGE PAWLACZYK - News-Democrat
BELLEVILLE -- The Illinois Supreme Court turned down a request by the Diocese of Belleville to hear an appeal of a $5 million award in a case of sexual abuse by one of its priests, making the amount plus $1.35 million in interest payable unless a further legal challenge can be mounted.
The decision was posted Wednesday without comment.
Unless further legal action occurs, the diocese must pay James Wisniewski of Champaign $6.35 million. If the diocese does not have adequate insurance or cannot raise the money, and some Catholic dioceses in the United States have been forced to sell property to meet such payments, the award would be paid through a guaranty bond.
During the civil trial, Weilmuenster and Wigginton introduced numerous memorandums and letters by officials of the diocese that showed that they knew that Kownacki had sexually abused minors but did not call police and repeatedly transferred the priest to various parishes without warning parishioners.
During the trial, former Belleville bishop, now Archbishop of Atlanta, testified that if it was true that Kownacki molested Wisniewski, then an award should be paid. Gregory became bishop after the time that Kownacki was said to have molested his victims.
Ed Barbier, spokesman for the Southern Illinois Association of Priests, issued a statement that said in part the high court's decision, "Ends the unnecessary, costly and painful years of litigation, and finally provides the Wisniewski family some closure to the pain they have suffered."
Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2011/05/25/1722694/supreme-court-rejects-belleville.html#ixzz1OqUSfFFg
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