Update: Lawsuit against Archpriest Michael Abdelahad

By Melanie Jula Sakoda
Pokrov
May 18, 2017

https://www.pokrov.org/update-lawsuit-archpriest-michael-abdelahad/

Father Michael Abdelahad

On May 1, 2017, the judge in the case of Manter vs. Abdelahad denied the defendants motion for summary judgment. Pokrov.org is working to obtain a copy of the memorandum denying the motion.

The case is currently scheduled for jury trial to begin on June 1, 2017. However, the defendants recently filed motions to postpone the upcoming court proceedings.

Susan Manter filed her lawsuit against the priest and others more than three years ago, in September of 2013.

Abdelahad was criminally convicted on May 25, 2012, of two counts of assault for kicking Manter with a shod foot and biting her. The woman was his parishioner and was going to him for counseling. The clergyman was sentenced to two years in the House of Correction, with 90 days to be served on the more serious of the two charges (kicking with a shod foot), and three years probation. As a condition of probation, the judge ordered Abdelahad not to engage in any mental health counseling.