Archdiocese Seeks to Block Depositions

St. Paul Pioneer Press
February 1, 2014

http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Archdiocese-seeks-to-block-depositions-5196473.php

T. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has asked a judge to prevent attorneys for an alleged sexual abuse victim from taking depositions from top church officials.

A former teenage altar boy identified as John Doe 1 filed suit last May against the archdiocese, the Diocese of Winona and former priest Thomas Adamson, alleging sexual abuse by Adamson between 1976 and 1977 when he was assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas church in St. Paul Park.

As part of that lawsuit, the plaintiff's attorneys, Jeff Anderson and Michael Finnegan, want to take depositions from Archbishop John Nienstedt and the Rev. Kevin McDonough, a former vicar general of the archdiocese.

The archdiocese argues in papers filed Tuesday that Nienstedt and McDonough should not have to give depositions, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported (http://bit.ly/1cHBqLL ).

Neither "had any involvement with Father Adamson, St. Thomas Aquinas, the alleged abuse of plaintiff in 1976 or 1977, the archdiocese's involvement in the transfer of Father Adamson from the (Winona) diocese, or the archdiocese's retention of supervision of Father Adamson during this time period," attorney Daniel Haws wrote. He said the attorneys are fishing for more information on "unrelated claims of clergy abuse and the archdiocese's handling of clergy abuse" long after John Doe 1 allegedly was abused.

Finnegan said Friday the depositions and other requested information are relevant.

"It's our position that Archbishop Nienstedt and Kevin McDonough for years have covered up and concealed child sex abuse in this archdiocese, thereby putting kids at risk" he said. "Both of those guys should have to answer for their actions under oath."

A hearing is set for Feb. 11.

Adamson served in the Winona diocese from 1958 to 1975. He was transferred to the Twin Cities archdiocese for treatment, and stayed until 1985, when he returned to the Winona diocese.