Archdiocese Deacon Sues Younger Brothers and Sexual Abuse Survivors Group Because They Report Sexual Abuse

Minnesota SNAP via Patrick Noaker
February 14, 2013

http://mnsnap.wordpress.com/child-protection-alert-damiani/

[complaint]

[answer and counterclaim of David Damiani]

[all documents - Patrick Noaker, Attorney]

Deacon Trying to Intimidate Younger Brothers into Silence

Younger Brother Warned Parishioners When Archdiocese Failed to Act

(Minneapolis, MN) Today, an Illinois man filed his Answer and Counterclaim (Hennepin Co. District Court Case No. 27 CV 13-2627) to a lawsuit filed by his brother Joseph Damiani, who is a Deacon in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The lawsuit was initiated by Deacon Joseph Damiani, after on November 25, 2012, David Damiani and the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) distributed Child Protection Alerts to parishioners at Annunciation Catholic Church and Gichitwaa Kateri Church, churches where Deacon Joseph Damiani is assigned.

According to the Counterclaim by David Damiani filed in Hennepin County District Court today, Joseph Damiani sexually abused both David and his brother Gregory Michael Damiani, when both were children. David Damiani reported this sexual abuse to a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 2011 and to an Archdiocese investigator in July 2012. Despite these reports, Joseph Damiani remained in ministry within the Office of Indian Ministry, working with the Native American community, including children. According to the Counterclaim, David Damiani became aware that Joseph Damiani had contact with children in the Native American community who may be very vulnerable to sexual abuse and not be in the position to report that sexual abuse. The inaction by the Archdiocese prompted David to, himself, go directly to the parishioners and warn them about Joseph Damiani’s history of sexual abuse. The substance of the Counterclaim is that Joseph Damiani is prosecuting the defamation lawsuit in order to intimidate his younger brothers David and Gregory Michael Damiani into remaining silent about Joseph Damiani sexually abusing the brothers when they were kids.

According to the Complaint filed by Joseph Damiani, the reports of sexual abuse by his younger brothers are interfering with his employment with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Contacts: David Damiani (815) 871-1757

Attorney Patrick Noaker (612) 839-1080, 601 Carlson Parkway, Suite 1050, Minnetonka, MN 55305