Sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests have been well-documented, including an investigative series by The Boston Globe. Perhaps the bigger scandal was the church's alleged cover-up of the crimes, such as accused priests being transferred to churches in other neighborhoods.
But it stands to reason that perhaps not all of the abuse accusations are true.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Chicago priest Chester J. Pryzbylo insists that accusations of sex abuse filed by a former altar boy Peter are false, and he has filed a defamation lawsuit. A three-and-a-half-year investigation of Galica's claims by the Department of Child and Family Services resulted in its dismissal of the claims by December 2009.
But according to Mr. Pryzbylo, the damage was already done.
Chicago injury lawyer Marc Pearlman, who represented the former altar boy, publicly referred to Mr. Pryzbylo as "Chester the Molester", and hosted at least one press conference in front of Pryzbylo's home and the church. Mr. Pryzbylo claims that this was in order to create public outrage towards him. In the Mr. Pryzbylo's complaint, it states that Mr. Pearlman tried to create jury sympathy for his client in a "meritless and scurrilous lawsuit."
The lawsuit also claims that the former altar boy, along with his attorneys Mr. Anderson and Mr. Pearlman and SNAP spokeswoman Barbara Blaine conspired against Mr. Pryzbylo. It alleges that they conducted an "unethical sneak attack" and "hatchet-job employing character assassination" of Mr. Pryzbylo.
Mr. Pryzbylo is seeking $550,000 in damages plus the cost of legal fees in his 11-count defamation lawsuit, including six counts of defamation, conspiracy, malicious prosecution, violations of the Illinois Right of Publicity Act, false light and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Related Resources:
- Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks To Pay Abuse Victims (FindLaw's Injured Blog)
- Elements of Libel and Slander (FindLaw)
- Defamation, Libel, and Slander (FindLaw)
- Chicago Injury Attorneys (FindLaw)
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