Arguments against Clergy Abuse Crusader to Begin Tuesday

By Beth Brogan
Bangor Daily News
July 6, 2015

https://bangordailynews.com/2015/07/06/news/portland/arguments-against-clergy-abuse-crusader-to-begin-tuesday/

Paul Kendrick

Attorneys are scheduled to give opening arguments Tuesday in the civil trial of Paul Kendrick, a Freeport man who was sued for defamation in 2013 by a former Catholic brother from Haiti and his nonprofit organization.

Michael Geilenfeld, 63, of Port au Prince, Haiti, and Hearts with Haiti, a North Carolina-based nonprofit group that raised money for orphanages run by Geilenfeld, filed suit against Kendrick, 65, an outspoken advocate for victims of clergy sexual abuse who claimed Geilenfeld, an Iowa native, sexually abused children.

Geilenfeld and Hearts with Haiti claim false allegations by Kendrick about Geilenfeld defamed the organization and caused fundraising events in the U.S. to be canceled.

The civil complaint, filed in February 2013, was amended after Geilenfeld’s release from a Haitian jail. It now includes a request for additional damages because of Geilenfeld’s “horrific experiences in prison.”

In a pre-trial brief filed last month, Geilenfeld’s attorney, Peter DeTroy of Portland, claimed his client’s damages “far exceed[ed] $10 million.” The charity has claimed losses of more than $2 million in donations, according to court documents.

Geilenfeld was detained in Port au Prince in September while a criminal investigation into abuse allegations was conducted, according to previously published reports. He was released April 29 and was not charged with a crime.

Justice authorities in Haiti told The Associated Press in May that an appeal filed by lawyers for the alleged victims had been granted and the case will be re-examined.

Attorneys and U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock spent most of Monday seating a jury of 10, with no alternates, although the trial is expected to take three weeks.

Woodcock later instructed the jury and warned Kendrick and Geilenfeld about their behavior during what he said has already been “an extremely difficult, emotional case.”

In April, Woodcock sanctioned Kendrick for publicly sharing documents that had been gathered during the discovery process.

Kendrick has continued to criticize Geilenfeld and his legal team in emails to reporters and advocates. On June 11, during a deposition of Geilenfeld, Kendrick threatened to have him arrested by homeland security, according to court documents.

“Given the nature of the case, during the course of the trial each of you will likely hear things about yourselves that you very profoundly disagree with and that strike you right to the core,” Woodcock told the two men. “What I’m urging you to do is not react. This is the way we resolve disputes in a civilized society … this process is going to require a certain amount of order and decorum.”

When asked by Woodcock, both men assured him they could “control” themselves during the trial.

BDN writer Judy Harrison contributed to this report.