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06/29/08 |
 
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REPRESENTING WORCESTER DIOCESES CATHOLIC CHURCH
Reardon &
Reardon
Welcome to our new and expanded web site: In addition to our usual work, we are currently involved in litigating a number of claims of clergy sexual abuse. We represent the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Worcester in these matters. In particular, we are involved in evidentiary and legal arguments involving the doctrine of charity immunity, statue of limitations and repressed/suppressed memory. In general, these issues have not been extensively litigated in Massachusetts August 12, 2004 Court Ruling Upholds Charitable Immunity Defense For Worcester Catholic Diocese - Excludes Plaintiff's Evidence - In addition, the Court ruled that a document named "Crimen Sollicitationis," claimed by plaintiffs' attorneys to demonstrate a pattern of secrecy by the Catholic Church, was not relevant to the plaintiff's claim and excluded the document from evidence. If you would like more information about this ruling, please contact us. March 8, 2004 Worcester Diocesan representation began with Attorney James G. Reardon (1928-1999). In the early 90's while representing the Worcester Diocese in clergy abuse alleged civil litigation, Attorney Reardon was notorious for his hard hitting and dominating attitude towards plaintiffs. His style was a notable issue presented by many individuals who had interacted with him during his legal service. Additionally, Attorney Frank S. Puccio Jr. who was a Partner in the law firm Reardon & Reardon, 1974 - 2000 on many occasions represented the Worcester Diocese in matters related to civil legation in relation to clergy sexual abuse allegations. Attorney Puccio Jr. is currently employed as associate at Burn & Farrey, 466 Main Street, Worcester. Judge Fremont-Smith ruled that the diocese did not violate any laws of evidence. But he said in his ruling that evidence revealed at the hearing suggests "diocesan officials and/or their counsel may have engaged, in this and in other cases, in a 'cover-up'." The judge also said one of the church's lawyers, James Reardon of Worcester, tried to prevent witnesses from answering questions by disrupting depositions. He barred Reardon from being present at any more depositions. Fremont-Smith also said the evidence he has seen showed that the church "for decades, failed to take appropriate action to remove from the priesthood known sexual predators." Other actions by James G. Reardon denoted the covering up of alleged sexual behavior which was reported by a Priest assigned to the Worcester Dioceses. During the summer of 1987, After disclosing the allegation of Rev. Gagnon's alleged sexual abuse both to church officials and his therapist, Rev. LaBaire said he was told that Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte was promptly notified. But Rev. LaBaire said he was never contacted by the district attorney's office or any law enforcement authorities. Instead, he was ushered into a meeting with James G. Reardon, now deceased, who was the diocesan lawyer at the time. Today his son, Attorney James G. Reardon, Jr., has been actively representing the dioceses in cases of allegation of sexual abuse by priest from within the Worcester dioceses. Most notable would be the representation of Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger, in his recent legal battle resulting from allegation of sexual abuse. Born: Worcester, Massachusetts, August 24, 1958 Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Litigation; Medical Malpractice Litigation; Criminal Defense; Civil Litigation Admitted: 1985, Massachusetts; 1989, U.S. Supreme Court; 1990; U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts; 1992, Maine; Law School: Georgetown University, J.D., 1984 College: Trinity College, B.A., 1981 Member: Boston, Worcester County (Co-Chairman, Young Lawyers Division, 1989-1992; Co-Chair, Technology Committee, 1991—) and Massachusetts (Member: Criminal Justice Section, 1993-1996; Small Office Practice Section, 1996-1999; Lawyers Referral Section, 1999—) Bar Associations; Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys; Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys. REPRESENTING TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY
Attorney Joanne Goulka, represents the Worcester Dioceses insurance carrier, Travelers Insurance.
Joanne is 1971 graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and a 1974 graduate of Boston University Law School. She was admitted to practice in Massachusetts in 1974. May 2, 2004 Diocesan lawyer is denied access to personal computer information Wednesday, April 28th tracking informing displayed, Griffin and Goulka law office had visited WorcesterVoice.com web site within hour of Worcester superior court hearing conclusion. Attorney Joanne Goulka, a lawyer who represents the Diocese of Worcester in various lawsuits alleging clergy sexual abuse, in an unprecedented and stunning move attempted unsuccessfully last week to get the names, addresses, links and cookies of everyone who had clicked on to a web site at www.timstaney.net. Tim Staney, who operated the site, is a professional web site developer who put up his site when he filed suit against the Diocese of Worcester and Father Jean-Paul Gagnon alleging that he was sexually abused by Father Gagnon. The suit also named Raymond Tremblay, who Tim Staney said was a religious education teacher who he said also abused him. Currently, Father Jean-Paul Gagnon awaits arraignment on May 17, 2004, charged with indecent assault and battery on a person over age 14 at a time when he was pastor of St. Augustine parish in Millville. complete article available on link March 8, 2004 Representative Cases provided by the law office of Griffin and Goulka make no reference to being the firm representing the Worcester Dioceses Insurance company Travelers, in cases of responsibility for action pertaining to civil complaints filed for sexual abuse allegations against clergy members. Attorney Goulka is perhaps best known to clergy abuse advocates for her attempt to subpoena clergy abuse correspondence from SNAP. The Sept. 9 subpoena instructed SNAP to disclose all information it had in the case of five women who alleged the church didn't protect them from the Rev. Robert E. Kelley, who was convicted of rape and has admitted molesting 50 to 100 girls at St. Cecilia's in Leominster 20 years ago. It also demanded "names of all persons" who ever alleged to SNAP that a priest in the Worcester diocese abused them. The subpoena was issued in the lawsuit being brought by Heather Mackey, Debbie Doucet, Nicole M. Cormier, Diane Gallian and Denise Hanrahan, who are suing the bishop and two diocesan priests alleging they were sexually abused as children by the Rev. Robert E. Kelley at St. Cecilia Parish in Leominster. They are represented by lawyer Jeffrey K. Newman of Boston. When public outcry erupted within the community the subpoena was withdrawn. Bishop Daniel Reilly and the Worcester dioceses clam to have no knowledge of the issuing of this subpoena. The Boston Globe yesterday reported that, “faced with a barrage of criticism from victims of clergy sexual abuse,” Bishop Reilly had ordered “church lawyers” to withdraw the subpoena. In a subsequent paragraph it told readers who read that far of the bishop's statements that he had been dismayed to read of the legal action and that neither he nor his chancery staff had known about it. Readers were left to decide for themselves whether the bishop, when he learned about the problem, simply did the right thing, or whether he moved only because “a barrage of criticism had erupted.” Attorney Goulka has begun a recent campaign in her depositions in
relations to allegations of sexual abuse by priest from the Worcester diocese
of inquiring into question relating to association with clergy abuse victim
support organizations. One recent victim deposed stated "half of my
deposition was related to web site posting question presented by Attorney Goulka".
All communications are confidential e-mail us at
Worcestervoice@msn.com
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This site was last updated 08/21/07
