The News Journal
July 20, 2008
Suits filed to date -- in U.S. District Court and Delaware Superior Court -- under Delaware's 2007 Child Victim's Act, which eliminated the civil statute of limitations in cases of child sexual abuse and opened a two-year "window" that allows previously time-barred suits to be filed.
(Three suits filed before the act passed were amended to incorporate the provisions of the new law.)
Jan. 8, 2004: Eric Eden v. the Rev. James W. O'Neill, Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, Salesianum School, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, abuse by O'Neill 1976-85. Settled with Salesianum and Oblates on March 24, 2008, and with the diocese on May 15, 2008, with apology, revocation of O'Neill's authority to minister in the diocese, and an undisclosed sum.
Dec. 28, 2006: Douglas McClure v. the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, St. Ann's Church, abuse by the late Rev. Edward B. Carley 1954-56. Pending.
July 12, 2007: Robert Quill v. the Rev. Francis G. DeLuca, Diocese of Wilmington, St. Elizabeth Church, abuse by DeLuca 1968-75. Settled Feb. 15, 2008, with apology, undisclosed sum.
Aug. 2, 2007: Kenneth Whitwell v. the Rev. Edward Smith, Diocese of Wilmington, Premonstratensian Fathers, the Norbertine Fathers of Pennsylvania and Delaware, Archmere Academy. (Whitwell won a $41 million federal jury verdict against Smith on March 31, 2007, before the Delaware law passed, then filed an amended complaint in Superior Court.) Settled Jan. 18, 2008, with diocese with public apology, $450,000. Pending against other defendants.
Sept. 21, 2007: Michael Dingle v. Diocese of Wilmington, Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli, former Bishop Robert Mulvee, Monsignor Thomas Cini, abuse by DeLuca 2001-06. Pending.
Nov. 30, 2007: James Sheehan, Salesianum School, Diocese of Wilmington, Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, abuse by the late Rev. Francis L. Norris 1962. Pending.
May 7, 2008: Matthias Conaty v. the Rev. Paul Daleo, the Diocese of Wilmington, the Capuchin Friars, the Brothers of the Holy Cross, St. Edmond's Academy, abuse by Daleo 1978-82. Pending.
May 30: John Doe No. 1 v. Diocese of Wilmington and St. John the Beloved Church, abuse by DeLuca 1961-64. Pending.
June 6: John Doe No. 2, v. Diocese of Wilmington and St. Elizabeth Church, abuse by DeLuca 1966-69. Pending.
June 13: John Doe No. 3, v. Diocese of Wilmington and St. John the Beloved, abuse by DeLuca 1962-65. Pending.
June 20: John Michael Vai v. Diocese of Wilmington and St. Elizabeth Church, abuse by DeLuca 1966-70. Pending.
June 27: Michael Sowden v. Diocese of Wilmington and St. John the Beloved, abuse by DeLuca 1961-62. Pending.
July 16: Michael Schulte v. Diocese of Wilmington and St. John the Beloved, abuse by DeLuca 1961-62. Pending.
