The Seattle Times recently reported that one of the two men suing the Seattle Catholic Archdiocese has agreed to a settlemtn. The lawsuit was filed with claims that former priest Patrick O'Donnell had perpetrated sexual abuse in the 1970s after being transferred to Seattle from Spokane.
The other plaintiff is continuing his suit against the archdiocese. No information about the amount of the settlement has been released.
This case is one of the first cases to actually go to trial against the Seattle Archdiocese. More than 200 cases have settled out of court and 20 more are pending.
Former Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen testified during the trial and said that he should have done more to check O'Donnell's background. He also said, "It was a breach on my part. It's hard to acknowledge that now. It hurts me."
Clergy abuse is a problem in many different areas across the country. If you have survived abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest, please do not hesitate to contact an attorney at the Zalkin Law Firm. Their experienced clergy abuse lawyers will be able to help you.
