Society of Jesus Settles Another Sexual Abuse Claim Involving Father Donald O’shaughnessy

By Cecil Caulkins
Legal Broadcast Network
July 3, 2015

http://legalbroadcastnetwork.com/the-lbn-blog/2015/7/3/society-of-jesus-settles-another-sexual-abuse-claim-involving-father-donald-oshaughnessy

[with video]

Eugene Hollander

A man who alleges he was abused by the late Jesuit priest Father Donald O’Shaughnessy has settled his sexual abuse claim. The Chicago-Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus has paid $950,000 to settle the case. The victim had attended the Loyola Academy in Wilmette. Chicago trial lawyer Eugene Hollander represented the plaintiff. He also represented another victim of Father O’Shaughnessy’s abuse in a case discussed in this earlier LBN report. Hollander explains the latest claim in this report.

Father O’Shaughnessy was a Jesuit priest for over seventy years. He served in Chicago and several other places around the country. Hollander explains that the matter in question was a civil claim that was settled by the Society of Jesus. Hollander maintains that the Society knew or should have known of Father O’Shaughnessy’s sexual predilections before the time of the sexual abuse. While the Society has settled the claim, there is no admission of liability as part of the settlement agreement.

As to changes in Society policy, Hollander says he is not aware of any particular changes that may have been made. The Society has not objected to having Father O’Shaugnessy’s name listed on bishopaccountability.org. The site lists priests who have been accused of sexual molestation. [Note: the name was not listed on the site as of July 3, 2015.]

Hollander says that his client is relieved to have this chapter of his life closed. He wants to move on with his life.

Eugene K. Hollander is a principal in the Law Offices of Eugene K. Hollander, Chicago, Illinois. He has served as a prosecutor with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, where he successfully prosecuted numerous individuals on the trial and appellate levels. Before opening his own office, Mr. Hollander associated himself with several aggressive litigation firms where he represented a Fortune 500 corporation in the defense of its labor claims, and successfully defended a class action contract claim at trial. He was recently selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer based on a statewide survey of practicing attorneys. The Legal Broadcast Network is a featured network of the Sequence Media Group.