Two more plaintiffs in sexual abuse cases filed against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville have reached settlements through mediation. The amounts of the settlements are being kept confidential at the plaintiffs’ request, said Brian Reynolds, chancellor and chief administrative officer of the archdiocese. Both plaintiffs are prosecution witnesses in criminal indictments against the people […]
Two more plaintiffs in sexual abuse cases filed against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville have reached settlements through mediation.
The amounts of the settlements are being kept confidential at the plaintiffs’ request, said Brian Reynolds, chancellor and chief administrative officer of the archdiocese.
Both plaintiffs are prosecution witnesses in criminal indictments against the people they have accused.
Robert M. Davis alleges former teacher Joseph Ben Greene III abused him when Greene taught at Ascension School. In the other case, Janet Goodner alleges that former priest Bruce Ewing abused her when she was a teenager attending St. Vincent de Paul Church, where Ewing was assigned.
Greene and Ewing have pleaded innocent and are awaiting trial.
The fact that both of the civil cases involved criminal investigations and indictments helped the church in determining the facts in the cases, Reynolds said, although he declined to give specifics.
”We have said all along we would work toward resolution through mediation,” Reynolds said. ”I’m pleased for the ability of the litigants to put this part of their life behind them.”
Davis and Goodner are the fourth and fifth plaintiffs to have settled their sexual abuse cases. Still pending against the archdiocese are 212 other suits.
Neither Davis nor Goodner could be reached for comment.
A mediator’s report said that the Davis case is settled and that Davis requested confidentiality.
Davis, now 39, alleged Greene abused him in the mid-1970s. Greene is charged in a criminal case with sexually abusing Davis, his brother and a student from St. Gabriel School.
Davis’ brother, John J. Davis Jr., has a lawsuit pending against the archdiocese. The third witness in the criminal case has not filed a civil suit.
Robert Davis is ”pleased that the case is resolved and that he can get on with his life,” said Joseph White, Davis’ attorney.
Goodner accused Ewing of having a sexual relationship with her for at least three years through the mid1970s.
”The most important thing for Janet Goodner was not the money as much as getting through the process, the emotional aspect of it, and getting the closure,” said her attorney, Kevin George. He confirmed that Goodner requested confidentiality.
The archdiocese is in the process of scheduling mediations, in other cases, Reynolds said.
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