In Green Bay case, sex-abuse victims forego punitive-damage award

May 23, 2012

Two brothers who won a sex-abuse lawsuit against the Green Bay diocese have decided not to press for punitive damages.

Todd and Troy Merryfield were awarded $700,000 in compensation after a Wisconsin jury found that the diocese had committed fraud by giving a parish assignment to a priest who had been previously charged with sexual assaults.

The Wisconsin trial had moved into a second phase, in which the jury was to add punitive damages to the original award. But the Merryfield brothers dropped the case, saying that their interest was in securing justice rather than a financial windfall.

 

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Further information:

• Brothers drop punitive damages against Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay (Post-Crescent)
• Green Bay diocese found guilty of fraud in abuse case (CWN, 5/22)