Diocese Seeking New Trial in Fraud Case

WHBY
July 18, 2012

http://www.whby.com/index.php/News/WHBY_News/10260

Lawyers for the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay were in Outagamie County court yesterday, seeking a new trial, after the church was ordered to pay $770,000 in a civil case.

Jurors found that church officials committed fraud when they transferred former priest John Feeney several times, and didn't warn parishioners about child sexual abuse allegations against him.

Feeney molested Troy and Todd Merryfield in the late 1970's, and they sued the diocese.

An attorney for the church says they deserve a new trial, because a juror made a comment that she was worried that Feeney may have molested one of her relatives. He says that shows bias, and he feels her comment could have poisoned the entire jury.

John Peterson is representing the Merryfields. He says the juror talked about the comment with court officials, and she felt that she could make a fair decision.

A decision on the new trial motion could come today or tomorrow.