Lane & Lane Attorneys Reach Settlement in Chicago Archdiocese Sex Abuse Case

Digital Journal
March 26, 2014

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1812032

Mark A. Brown, an attorney at Lane & Lane, LLC, has reached a settlement with the Chicago Archdiocese in a sexual abuse case involving a now 24-year-old male and a former priest and school teacher (1). As stated in the case, the victim was a student at Our Lady of the Westside School where the former priest, Father Daniel McCormack, was a teacher during the 2000–2001 school year (1). Now 24 years old, the "John Doe" client received between $1.68 and $2.1 million in a settlement that was reached before the case could go to trial in September 2014 (1).

Father McCormack served as pastor of Saint Agatha's Catholic Church and Our Lady of the Westside School from 2000-2006 (2). However, the lawsuit alleged that the Archdiocese was aware of McCormack's past history of sexual misconduct stemming back to his time in seminary years before--yet still chose to place him in ministry service among youth (1).

In 2007, McCormack pleaded guilty to sexually molesting five other boys, and served time in prison for those crimes (3). He continues to be confined while a petition to keep him committed to state custody under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act is considered by a Cook County judge (4).

This case against Father McCormack is one claim out of multiple cases brought about against the now defrocked priest (3). The Chicago Archdiocese recently released a statement, along with the names of 30 different priests connected to the numerous sexual abuse claims that have been filed over the last decade or more (3).

Many of the priests named in the report are now deceased, while a number are currently serving prison sentences, or have served past sentences, for their crimes (3).

To learn more information about this sexual abuse case settlement between the Chicago Archdiocese and Lane & Lane's client, visit http://www.ChicagoClergySexAbuse.com.

Attribution:
1. Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, in December 2011. 2011 L 13062
2. BishopAccountability.org; bishop-accountability.org/il_chicago/#mccormack
3. Huffington Post; January 14, 2014; huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/21/priest-sex-abuse-in-chicago_n_4635040.html
4. Chicago Tribune; January 30, 2014; articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-01-30/news/chi-35-million-settlement-reached-in-sex-abuse-suit-against-archdiocese-20140130_1_abused-doe-archdiocese-west-side-catholic-school

About The Law Offices of Lane & Lane, LLC

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Lane & Lane handles personal injury and sexual abuse cases throughout the state of Illinois, but focuses primarily on cases throughout the city of Chicago and its surrounding counties. The nationally and internationally recognized attorneys have successfully handled numerous sexual abuse cases involving minors in recent years. To learn more about The Law Offices of Lane & Lane, visit our website or call us at 1.800.529.9377.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/03/prweb11705188.htm