Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against Archdiocese of Newark Settles

NEWARK, N.J., April 8 /PRNewswire/ --

What:

A news conference to announce the settlement of a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Newark and the Diocese of Orlando, release evidence of the church's gross negligence, and deposition transcripts of Newark's Archbishop, and his former Vicar General (now the Bishop of Patterson)

Who:

The victim's attorney, Adam Horowitz, and members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)

Why:

Jane Doe v. Diocese of Orlando and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark (Case no. 06-CA0728-35) was filed in Orlando, Florida (Orange County Circuit Court) in 2006.  Jane Doe alleged she was repeatedly stalked and ultimately sexually assaulted by her Roman Catholic Priest, Rev. Wladyslaw Gorak between 2004 and 2005.  

Gorak, ordained in Poland, began working in Newark in 1998.  Documents obtained in the lawsuit reveal that other priests and church staff raised concerns about Gorak, including his inappropriate sexual interactions with female parishioners, and even told then-Archbishop Theodore McCarrick their concerns.  In 2001, two New Jersey police departments investigated Gorak for stalking another female parishioner.  

Gorak began working in the Diocese of Orlando in January 2004.  Several months later, Newark's Vicar General, now-Bishop Arthur Serratelli, provided the Diocese of Orlando with a sworn affidavit that Gorak was fit for ministry in Orlando.  At deposition, Serratelli testified that he never even reviewed Gorak's file, which contained evidence of the prior complaints.  

In Florida, Gorak terrorized Jane Doe, following her everywhere, breaking into her home, and ultimately sexually assaulting her.  He was convicted of stalking Jane Doe in 2005.  

Gorak has never been laicized and remains a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark.  He has legally changed his named to Walter Fisher.

Jane Doe is 55 years old.  She resides in Ireland with her husband.  Her attorneys are Adam Horowitz and Jessica Arbour of the Miami law firm Mermelstein & Horowitz.

The amount of the settlement is confidential.

Documents from Gorak's file and the deposition transcripts of the Newark officials will be available at the news conference and at http://jessicaarbour.blogspot.com.    

When:

TODAY- April 8, 2010 @ 1:00pm.  Public sidewalk near Archdiocese of Newark Chancery offices, 171 Clifton Ave. Newark. NJ

SOURCE Mermelstein & Horowitz, P.A.

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