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Summary & History of Cases
Click here to download and print a timeline of cases from 1993 to present.
 
Summary of Cases
Citizens of Connecticut were shocked in January of 1993 when two lawsuits were brought on behalf of individuals who were sexually abused by Father Raymond Pcolka, a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Bridgeport. Over the next two months, 15 additional individuals stepped forward claiming that they too were sexually abused by Father Pcolka. The media reported that these abuses, which included rape and sodomy, occurred in Roman Catholic convents, rectory bedrooms and sacristies throughout three parishes in Fairfield County for over a decade while these children were acting as altar boys or involved in the Catholic Youth Organization.
The Diocese's initial response to the lawsuits was to file gag orders in court preventing public access to information relating to the sexual abuses of its priests. Over the next eight years, additional survivors of childhood clergy sex abuse came forward and were represented by Tremont & Sheldon In August 1999, a claim that occurred in 1993, on Bishop Edward Egan's (now Cardinal Egan of New York, New York) watch, was brought against the Diocese of Bridgeport and Bishop Egan, involving the offenses of Father Federici. Cardinal Egan has already been deposed twice in connection with these claims.
From the beginning, Tremont & Sheldon has claimed that there has been an ongoing cover-up regarding clergy sex abuse in this Diocese, instead of removing the perpetrator from the priesthood, he would be summarily transferred to another parish. Tremont & Sheldon believes that the Diocese of Bridgeport, including Cardinal Egan, allowed known sex abusers to continue on as active priests, enabling these offenders to have contact with children.
Settlements
In June of 1999, Tremont & Sheldon settled a major claim against the Diocese of Bridgeport involving a minor who was sexually abused by Father Martin Federici. Twenty-six survivors of childhood clergy sexual abuse are included in this settlement, which includes abuses beginning in the late 1960's and continuing into the early 1990's, during Cardinal Egan's tenure as Bishop with the Diocese. Tremont & Sheldon represented 24 of the plaintiffs.
In March 2001, Tremont & Sheldon achieved a global settlement with the Diocese of Bridgeport and its predecessor bishop, Cardinal Edward Egan in connection with over 20 clergy sex abuse lawsuits, some of which have been pending for over eight years. The settlement was accomplished through a lengthy mediation process in which United States Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport, CT, graciously agreed to serve as the mediator. All of these cases involve claims of individuals who, as children, were sexually abused by one of the following six Bridgeport Diocesan priests: Father Raymond Pcolka, Father Martin Federici, Father Charles Carr, Father William Coleman; Father Joseph Gorecki, and Father Joseph Malloy of St. Ann's in Bridgeport, CT.
In the summer of 2002, Tremont & Sheldon resolved three additional claims for persons who were sexually abused as minors by priests of the Diocese of Bridgeport. The three offending priests were Father Charles Stubbs, Father Charles Carr, and Father Joseph Moore.
In October 2002, the law firm of Tremont & Sheldon reached an agreement with Bishop William Lori and the Diocese of Bridgeport to attempt resolution of numerous new cases involving former child parishioners who were sexually abused by priests within the Diocese of Bridgeport. United States Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel once again agreed to assist in resolving these matters. The most recent mediation that is ongoing includes over 40 victims represented by the law firm who were sexually molested by 10 priests within the Diocese of Bridgeport. As a result of pending statutes of limitations, Tremont & Sheldon has filed six lawsuits involving claims against Monsignor Charles Stubbs, Father Martin Federici, Father Alfred Bietighofer and Father Joseph Gorecki. These lawsuits were filed in order to preserve the rights of the victims during the pending mediation. Tremont & Sheldon had previously represented victims who had been abused by all four priests. In addition claims have been made against Father Richard Grady, Father Alfred Bietighofer, Father Joseph Deshan, Father William Donovan, Father Albert McGoldrick, Father Sherman Gray, Father Robert Morrissey, and Father Raymond Pcolka.
In October of 2003, Tremont & Sheldon reaches a $21 million settlement with Diocese of Bridgeport on behalf of 40 survivors of clergy sexual abuse. (The offending priests are listed above.)
In October of 2005, Tremont & Sheldon announced a $22 million global settlement with the Archdiocese of Hartford. The settlement included claims of 43 individuals, 15 of whom were represented by Tremont & Sheldon. Judge Garfinkel once again presided over the mediation which involved the abuses of 14 priests within the Archdiocese of Hartford. Lawsuits had been filed against the Archdiocese involving claims against Father Thomas Glynn (deceased), Father Stephen Foley, Father Daniel McSheffery, Father Louis Paturzo, and Father Raymond Paul. Other priests involved in these claims include Father Joseph Buckley (deceased), Father Stephen Crowley, Father Ivan Ferguson (deceased), Father John Graham, Father Felix Maguire, Father Edward Muha (deceased), Father William Pryzbylo, Monsignor Edward Reardon and Father Kenneth Shiner.
Current Cases
Tremont & Sheldon has been currently retained and/or is investigating additional claims against priests of all Connecticut Dioceses. In addition, our law firm is handling claims for other victims of sexual abuse against brothers, nuns, parochial schools, and individuals from various denominations throughout the state.
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