Tremont Sheldon P.C. Announces Settlement With Diocese of Bridgeport on Behalf of Five Clergy Sex Abuse Victims

Tremont Sheldon P.C. reached settlements with the Diocese of Bridgeport on behalf of five (5) clergy sex abuse survivors. Since 1993, Tremont Sheldon P.C. has represented over 175 victims of childhood sexual abuse including cases against public and private schools, boarding schools, youth coaches, religious institutions, and medical facilities resulting in over $63 million in recoveries for their clients.

The Cases – Records of Sexual Abuse

For almost 25 years, Tremont Sheldon P.C. has been battling with Bridgeport Diocese attorneys on these cases. In connection with these additional five (5) cases, Tremont Sheldon P.C. obtained thousands of pages of records including documentation on sexual abuse of Diocesan priests never before disclosed. “Our clients all came from very religious families and they were altar boys, attended Catholic schools or were heavily involved in Emmaus. These pedophile priests used religion to gain access and trust. The victims came forward to try to prevent this type of abuse from occurring again and to hold the Diocese responsible,” said Jason Tremont of Tremont Sheldon P.C.. The settlements involve claims by five (5) minor victims of sexual abuse by four (4) priests in the Diocese:

1. Reverend Martin Federici while at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Norwalk, Connecticut, St. Edward the Confessor in New Fairfield as well as on Emmaus retreats in Danbury, Connecticut;
2. Reverend Walter Coleman while at St. Patrick’s Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut;
3. Reverend James Gildea, a Holy Cross brother, while at Notre Dame High School in Fairfield, Connecticut; and
4. Reverend Robert Morrissey while a counselor at St. Mary’s High School in Greenwich, Connecticut.

All cases were filed in the Bridgeport Superior Court.

“After many arguments and countless negotiations, the court ordered the Diocese to perform an exhaustive search of its archives to identify records of sexual abuse of children in the Diocese of Bridgeport. Now that those records have been collected, it is our hope that the Diocese will be in a better position to respond to victims who come forward in the future,” said an attorney of Tremont Sheldon P.C. .

In addition to the priests listed above, the following list of priests within the Diocese of Bridgeport, many of whom abused victims represented by Tremont Sheldon P.C., have been sued and/or were suspended following allegations of sexual abuse of minors, or have had claims against them:

1. Father Kieran T. Ahearn
2. Father Henry A. Albeke
3. Father Stanley Banaszek
4. Father Alfred J. Bietighofer
5. Father Laurence F. X. Brett
6. Father Charles T. Carr
7. Father John Castaldo
8. Father Jean Marie DeGraff
9. Father Joseph DeShan
10. Father Stephen J. DeLuca
11. Reverend William Donovan
12. Father William Fletcher
13. Monsignor William A. Genuario
14. Father Joseph H. Gorecki
15. Father Richard J. Grady
16. Father Sherman Gray
17. Father Stanley Koziol
18. Father Joseph Malloy
19. Father Albert McGoldrick
20. Father L. Luke Meunier
21. Father Joseph P. Moore
22. Father Gavin O’Connor
23. Father Raymond S. Pcolka
24. Father Martin Ryan
25. Monsignor Gregory M. Smith
26. Monsignor Charles W. Stubbs
27. Father Vincent Veich
28. Monsignor Frank Wissel
29. Rev. Larry Jensen – Maronite Catholic Church

Tremont Sheldon P.C. has also been heavily involved in representing victims who were abused as children by priests within the Archdiocese of Hartford. The following list of priests with the Archdiocese, and many of whom abused victims represented by Tremont Sheldon P.C., have been sued and/or suspended following allegations of sexual abuse of minors, or have had claims against them:

1. Father Joseph Buckley
2. Father Stephen Crowley
3. Father Ivan Ferguson
4. Father Stephen C. Foley
5. Father Thomas Glynn
6. Father John Graham
7. Monsignor Joseph Lacy
8. Father Robert Ladamus
9. Father Felix Maguire
10. Father Daniel McSheffery
11. Father L. Luke Meunier
12. Father Edward Muha
13. Father Louis Paturzo
14. Father Raymond Paul
15. Father William Przybylo
16. Monsignor Edward Reardon
17. Father Kenneth Shiner

“While our work representing victims of childhood sexual abuse began with cases against religious institutions, tragically, over the years, we’ve seen that these horrific acts occur in other places frequented by children. Currently, we are representing individuals who have been devastated by child sex abuse that happened while they were students at prestigious private schools and well-regarded public schools. We hope our efforts will ensure that schools are one of the safest places for our children,” said an attorney of Tremont Sheldon P.C. .

Tremont Sheldon P.C. continues to fight for sexual abuse victims and is currently representing victims abused as minors by teachers or coaches at public, private, and parochial schools throughout the state of Connecticut as well as by clergy at religious institutions and doctors and medical professionals at hospitals and medical facilities. This includes but is not limited to: The Diocese of Bridgeport; St. Joseph’s School in Shelton; The Archdiocese of Hartford; St. Lawrence School in West Haven; The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut; St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Milford; The Maronite Catholic Church; St. Anthony’s in Danbury; Hopkins School in New Haven; Villa Maria School in Stamford; Stamford Board of Education; The Town of Trumbull; Boys & Girls Village in Milford; The Children’s Center of Hamden and The Child and Family Guidance Center, Bridgeport. It is important to note that under current Connecticut law, any person who claims damages as a result of being sexually abused, sexually assaulted or sexually exploited as a minor has until 30 years past the age of majority (typically until age 48) in which to file a claim in court. Tremont Sheldon P.C. is seeing many victims come forward who were abused in the 80s and 90s.