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	Illinois Supreme Court Will Not Hear Appeal in $5 Million Award in Priest Sex Abuse Case By Valerie Schremp Hahn St. Louis Post-Dispatch May 25, 2011 http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/article_a755d11c-870b-11e0-a6b0-001a4bcf6878.html The Illinois Supreme Court today denied a request to hear an appeal by the Diocese of Belleville involving a $5 million civil jury award in a priest sexual abuse case. James Wisniewski of Champaign sued in 2002 in St. Clair County, alleging that the Rev. Raymond Kowancki sexually abused him for five years in the 1970s beginning when he was 13. His suit also claimed the diocese concealed Kownacki's suspected behavior and quietly shuffled him among parishes. Wisniewski's attorney, Mike Weilmuenster, said this afternoon he was "elated" for his client. "This is kind of a victory for all victims of sexual abuse by a priest. Perhaps this can give people some closure, some sense of justice." He said that with interest, the award comes to around a total of $6.3 million. The case was heard in 2008. In January, the Southern Illinois appeals court panel turned down a request to overturn the award. Contact: vhahn@post-dispatch.com
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