GREEN BAY (WI)
NBC 26
By Kasey Hott
GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Diocese heads back to court Wednesday to see if they have to pay even more money as a punishment for committing fraud.
The case stems from former priest John Patrick Feeney and his sexual abuse of the Merryfield brothers in the 1970s. A jury sided with the brothers on Monday. Now, the Diocese could be forced to pay punitive damages. It will be up to a jury to decide whether those damages should be awarded.
“Punitive damages are damages for punishment. They aren’t for compensation. The reason the case was split into two is because the jury has to make certain findings before punitive damages becomes an issue,” said attorney Bruce Bachhuber.
Now that the jury has made those findings, the judge and jury will hear additional evidence to determine if money should be awarded.. and how much.
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