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  Juror Picks under Way in Diocese Suit

By Ann Givens
Newsday [New York]
April 11, 2007

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/ny-lidate115166792apr11,0,4554284.story

Jury selection began yesterday in the civil case against a former Catholic youth minister convicted of molesting four teenagers and against the Diocese of Rockville Centre, which is accused of failing to protect his victims.

The suit, filed in State Supreme Court by two of Matthew Maiello's victims, names Maiello, the Rev. Thomas Haggerty, St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church in East Meadow, and the diocese as defendants.

The suit seeks $150 million in damages.

Maiello, a former youth minister at St. Raphael, pleaded guilty to rape and sodomy of the two plaintiffs and two others in 2003, and served just more than 2 years in prison.

Michael Dowd, of Manhattan, the plaintiffs' lawyer, has said the church ignored what they should have known was a dangerous relationship between Maiello and the teens.

In court, Brian Davey, of Williston Park, who represents Haggerty, the church and the diocese, said he will dispute the plaintiffs' claims. Davey told prospective jurors, "The person responsible for anything that happened is Matthew Maiello."

 
 

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