Lawyer: 3 more friar abuse suits settled by former students

New Jersey Herald
April 15, 2015

http://www.njherald.com/story/28807925/lawyer-3-more-friar-abuse-suits-settled-by-former-students

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) - An attorney says three more former students at a western Pennsylvania Catholic school have settled sexual abuse suits involving a Franciscan friar who worked there nearly 20 years ago.

Boston attorney Michael Garabedian tells the (Johnstown) Tribune-Democrat (http://bit.ly/1FK9zVv ) that each of the cases settled for $50,000, or a total of $150,000.

In October, Garabedian and other attorneys announced an $8 million settlement on behalf of 88 former Bishop McCort High School students alleging abuse by Brother Stephen Baker, who committed suicide in January 2013.

Since then, other alleged victims have come forward to sue the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese - which ran the school when Baker worked there - and others. A diocesan spokesman declined comment.

Altoona attorney Richard Serbin, who represented other settlement victims, says he has also recently settled three newer claims by former students.