Attorney Asks Two Other Depositions Be Made Public

By Ted Slowik
The Herald News
February 15, 2006

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/city/4_1_JO15_PRIEST_S2.htm

[Survivor's name redacted on 9/7/07 at his request.]

JOLIET — A local attorney is asking a judge to order the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet to make public two other depositions that Bishop Joseph Imesch has given about priests who sexually abused minors.

Attorney Michael Bolos is making the request on behalf of several men who are suing priests, Imesch and the diocese. Will County Judge Gerald Kinney is scheduled to hear the motion today and is expected to allow the diocese time to file a response, Bolos said.

Imesch testified under oath twice during the 1990s for lawsuits that claimed former priests Larry Gibbs and Myles White molested boys. A protective order was issued, and the depositions and other documents were shielded from the public.

Earlier this month, a DuPage County judge's ruling made public a deposition given by Imesch in August for another pending case, alleging that former priest Ed Stefanich abused a boy about 35 years ago.

The new motion is related to four pending cases, Bolos said.

Christopher Fehrenbacher sued in 2004, alleging that the Rev. Larry Mullins molested him at the Cathedral of St. Raymond about 25 years ago. A man identified only as John Doe sued in 2004, saying the Rev. Jeffrey Salwach sexually abused him at St. Jude Parish in New Lenox during the 1970s.

Two weeks ago, [Redacted] and David Mortell filed suits saying former priest Michael Gibbney molested them on separate occasions at parishes in Elmhurst and Bolingbrook about 25 years ago.