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	Church Abuse Case in Court By Meryl Conant WCBD June 24, 2008 http://www.wcbd.com/midatlantic/cbd/news.apx.-content-articles-CBD-2008-06-24-0013.html Some victims of childhood sexual abuse spent the day battling the Catholic Diocese of Charleston in court. The issue at hand was not abuse directly but their claim the church has not lived up to the settlement agreement to pay them. The topic in court Tuesday specifically had to do with what county should hear this case. But the bigger issue here is the agreement reached between 11 victims and the Diocese last summer. While it states money was supposed to reach victims starting in January. Now, on June 23, the issue still is in court. "I have yet to get any satisfaction, compensation, apologies, anything from the Diocese of Charleston," said Larry Mullen, who says from 12 to 18 years old, an employee of the church, an elementary school teacher, molested him. "I hid it for all my life." Now Mullen is John Doe B; one of 11 victims who reached a settlement agreement for more than one million dollars with the Diocese of Charleston. "They won't talk to us and they won't pay us," said their attorney, Gregg Myers. "One guy is facing bankruptcy, one guy has even more serious problems. If they don't get paid soon and I mean very soon those problems will begin to fall for them." Myers has filed a breach of contract against the Diocese since none of his clients have received any payout. "It's not the Diocese that is holding up the payment nor has it been," explained spokesman Stephen Gajdosik. He says originally there was a hang-up due to a disagreement about the time frame in which the church had to pay. But now he says the only hold up is Myers' lawsuit. "Is this in anyway an attempt to delay payment?" asked reporter Meryl Conant. "No, no," Gajdosik responded. "In fact, we communicated we are willing to pay but we cannot because of the pending suit." The legal ping-pong still flying leaves victims like Mullen waiting. "It's about the truth," he explained. "I could care less about the money but I want the truth to come out once and for all." News 2 asked Gajdosik about this victim's claims that the church is sweeping the issues under the rug and denying responsibility. He says that is not true, that the church waived its legal protection as a charitable organization as well as the statue of limitations to make things right in these cases. As far as what's next, a judge ruled this breach of contract lawsuit has a right to be argued in Charleston County. But, there still are legal matters in Dorchester County which may change that. Simultaneously, the Diocese of Charleston currently is settling a $12 million agreement with a separate group of victims who filed a class action suit.
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