LONG ISLAND (NY)
Newsday
BY RITA CIOLLI
STAFF WRITER
June 12, 2005
Bishop William Murphy has terminated the services of George Rice, who has served as diocesan attorney for 35 years and has intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the local Catholic Church, and replaced him with a high-powered national law firm.
As of September, the firm of Nixon Peabody, which has a local office of 42 attorneys in Garden City, will represent the Diocese of Rockville Centre, the largest nongovernmental employer and property holder on Long Island.
"I think we are an excellent fit," said David DeCerbo, who opened the local office in 1989 and will be the firm's liaison.
Sean Dolan, a spokesman for Murphy, said the change was made because of the complex and varied legal needs of the diocese, which has more than 200 separate corporations including its 134 parishes, schools and hospitals. ...
Rice is listed on the diocese's new incident-report sheet as one of three entities -- along with the local police precinct and delegate for the bishop -- who must be notified when a complaint involving a minor is filed against a diocesan employee. Dolan said Rice will continue in that role during the transition and that his firm may continue to work on projects.
Nixon Peabody represents the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and three upstate dioceses, he said. Dolan said it was unclear whether anyone again would have the title of diocesan attorney.