ILLINOIS
Chicago Tribune
Manya Brachear Pashman
Chicago Tribune
A former employee of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests has sued the victims advocacy group, alleging that SNAP exploited victims of sexual abuse by clergy in return for financial kickbacks from attorneys.
According to a lawsuit filed this week in Cook County Circuit Court, Gretchen Rachel Hammond worked as a director of development from July 2011 until she said she was fired in February 2013, shortly after asking superiors whether SNAP was referring potential clients to attorneys in exchange for donations.
In addition to the organization, defendants named in the lawsuit are Barbara Blaine, its founder and president; David Clohessy, executive director; and Barbara Dorris, outreach director.
Blaine said in a statement that “the allegations are not true.
“This will be proven in court,” she said. “SNAP leaders are now, and always have been, devoted to following the SNAP mission: To help victims heal and to prevent further sexual abuse.”
Neither Clohessy nor Dorris could be reached for comment.
Though it did not name attorneys, the lawsuit said several high-profile litigators across the country had donated a large percentage of SNAP’s income.
Jeff Anderson, a prominent Minnesota attorney for victims of clergy sex abuse, confirmed that he makes regular donations to SNAP, as well as other nonprofit organizations that advocate for the safety of children. But he said he does not do it in exchange for referrals.
“I have supported SNAP and a lot of other organizations that help survivors throughout the country, unapologetically,” he said.
“The allegation is explosive because it’s unethical,” he added. “I’ve never done it nor would I ever do it.”
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