ALASKA
KTUU
Monday, February 28, 2005 - by Megan Baldino
Anchorage, Alaska - It looks as though a settlement with the Catholic Church may be reached in a deal that could be the largest in Alaska. Monday, the attorney for a woman who says she was abused as a child by a popular Nome priest says he is close to an agreement.
There is word of a possible settlement in the $1 million range, and on Monday, for the first time, “Jane Doe” released her name. Elsie Boudreau says going public is part of her effort to heal.
In the lawsuit, Boudreau claims Father Jim Poole fondled and French-kissed her many times when she was 10 to 16 years old, with the abuse taking place mainly in Nome. It was Poole who started KNOM, the Catholic radio station there, and he was known as “the radio priest.”
Lawyers for Poole filed a protective order a while ago in the case to prevent his deposition from being released.
Boudreau's attorney, Ken Roosa, wants the written account released because he claims Poole’s deposition includes an admission that he abused a young woman.
Posted by kshaw at March 1, 2005 04:08 AM