January 31, 2006

Vosen lawsuit settled

BARABOO (WI)
Baraboo News Republic

By Brian Bridgeford

BARABOO - A judge brought closure to an unsuccessful defamation suit by Baraboo priest Father Gerald Vosen against a Janesville family last week.

As part of the agreement approved in Rock County Circuit Court Friday, the family will not demand thousands of dollars in legal fees as their lawyer proposed, said Patrick K. McDonald, Vosen's attorney.

In August, a jury rejected Vosen's contention that Peter L. Arnold and his parents, Nancy and LeLand Arnold, defamed him when they claimed Peter was abused by Vosen between 1989 and 1991, while in fifth and sixth grades. They said abuse took place while Vosen was a priest at St. John Vianney Catholic Church and school in Janesville, according to court records.

Vosen has maintained his innocence.

Posted by kshaw at January 31, 2006 04:00 PM