O’NEILL KELLNER & GREEN COMPLETES CASE OF WOMAN MOLESTED BY HER UNCLE
O’Neill Kellner & Green completed the resolution in January 2012 of the case of a young woman, now in her early 20ies, whose uncle molested her as a young teenager.
Although the girl and her uncle did not live in Vermont, the uncle molested her while visiting Vermont with her and with other family members on vacation. This was enough for O’Neill Kellner & Green to bring a case against him under Vermont’s child sex abuse statute. By moving quickly, Jerry O’Neill of the firm was able to obtain an order from the federal court in Vermont that prohibited the uncle, now serving ten years in prison for the molestation, from transferring several hundred thousand dollars in assets out of his name.
As part of a settlement, the uncle turned over almost everything he owned, including three pieces of real estate and a $100,000 life insurance policy to the young woman. The transfers of the real estate and the life insurance now is complete, permitting her to move on with her life and to deal with the issues the molestation has caused her.
JERRY O’NEILL SPEAKS AT ADVANCED DEPOSITIONS COLLEGE
Jerry O’Neill was a faculty member at the American Association for Justice’s four day Advanced Depositions College in New Orleans January 13-16.
He conducted workshops with a group of experienced lawyers as they put into practice deposition techniques learned at the college. He also spoke to all of the participants at the program on the topics of how to take expert witness depositions and conducting the deposition of the corporate representative pursuant to rule 30(b)(6).
OKG Wins Workers’ Comp Case for Volunteer Firefighter
Michael Green speaks to the case on WPTZ
Jason Stech a member of the Colchester Center Volunteer Fire Department severely fractured his ankle on June 11, 2011 when he fell from a ladder while doing maintenance work at the firehouse. His orthopedic surgeon told him he would be disabled from his full-time job as a service technician for several months. The Fire Department’s President John Meyers filed a workers’ compensation claim on his behalf.
Both Stech and Meyers were surprised and disappointed when the workers’ compensation company denied the claim because, it said, his injuries were not sustained “in the line of duty” as defined by Vermont’s Workers’ Compensation Act. Without workers’ compensation, Stech would have no income for as long as he remained disabled.
Department President Meyers notified elected officials as well as the media. The story of the denial was carried on the local television networks and spread on the internet, particularly to sites frequented by volunteer firefighters and first responders. Volunteer Fire Departments throughout Vermont, and around the country, were concerned that their members would not receive workers’ compensation benefits they deserved and this would likely make it harder for them to recruit and retain members.
OKG Attorney Michael Green filed an appeal of the insurance company’s denial. He submitted Mr. Meyer’s deposition testimony and a detailed legal brief to the Vermont Department of Labor. On July 25, 2011, the Vermont Department of Labor issued an order in favor of Jason Stech which requires the insurance company to immediately pay him workers’ compensation benefits. This will cover the full cost of his medical treatment and replace the wages he has lost due to his disability.
Stech, who has been without a paycheck since he was injured, is relieved that he soon will receive workers’ compensation benefits. He said “I did not think the denial was fair or legal. I am very pleased that the Vermont Department of Labor determined that the insurance company was wrong and that I will receive workers’ compensation benefits.” Stech hopes to be cleared by his doctor to return to work in the next few weeks, and he will continue to serve the Colchester Center Volunteer Fire Department.
O’Neill Kellner & Green for $17.65 million today resolved all 26 of the pending child sex abuse cases against the Catholic Diocese of Burlington. In addition, O’Neill Kellner & Green settled the appeals from the verdicts of $3.6 million from December 2008 and $2.2 million from October 2009. The total amount the Diocese paid, including the $17.65 million, exceeds $20 million.
The firm settled the largest verdict against the Diocese, $8.7 million, in February of this year.
In each of the cases settled while the appeals were pending the clients requested that the amounts of the settlement not be made public.
O’Neill Kellner & Green now has resolved 36 child sex abuse cases against the Diocese going
back to 2002.
Jerome O’Neill and John Evers, the Plaintiffs attorneys, give great credit to our clients for their courage in coming forward and making their claims. It is hard for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to come forward and confront their accusers. These individuals each took that step. Their willingness to come forward, coupled with juries who understand what they had experienced, is what held the Catholic Diocese accountable.
OKG’s Support Provides Scholarships for Youth Sports Programs – Perhaps you’ve seen children wearing colorful t-shirts with “O´Neill Kellner & Green Attorneys” written on the back. Perhaps, your own children have worn them! For more than 10 years, OKG has sponsored the youth basketball and soccer programs of the Burlington Parks & Recreation Department. “OKG´s support is essential to our program and has allowed us to offer scholarships to children who otherwise would not be able to participate in our programs” said Maggie Leugers, the Superintendent of Recreation. “I don’t know what we would do without them.”
OKG Lawyers Represent Victim of Clergy Sexual Abuse; Obtain “Landmark” Verdict – For the past decade, Jerry O’Neill has devoted his practice to representing the victims of childhood sexual abuse. On May 14, 2008 he obtained what the Burlington Free Press described as a “landmark” verdict for a man who had been abused when he was an alter boy. After a two-week trial in which Jerry O’Neill and OKG Attorney John Evers presented evidence that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington knew it was allowing a child molester to privately supervise its altar boys, a Chittenden County jury ordered the Diocese to pay $8.7 million in damages. The Diocese has appealed the verdict. Paralegal Mary Lou Marsh assisted Jerry and John in the trial.
20 Years of Practice and a New Office – In 2007, we celebrated our 20th year as a firm. Many of our current employees have been with us for most of those years.We are proud that our founding partner Geoffrey Crawford is serving the people of Vermont as a Superior Court judge. In June 2008 we moved to our new office at 84 Pine Street in Burlington. If you are an old friend or client, be sure to remember our new location before you come to our office.There often are parking spaces available on Pine Street and the Burlington Town Center garage is only one-half a block away.
OKG Lawyers Hold Leadership Positions with Local Charities – With today’s high energy prices and the economy in turmoil, this promises to be a difficult year for many of our community’s most vulnerable residents. OKG lawyers are active in our community. Jerry O’Neill has been a long-time director of COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter. Michael Green is a member of the board of the United Way of Chittenden County.
John Schraven Takes His Act on the Road – Before joining OKG almost 20 years ago, John Schraven worked as an insurance adjuster. His experience in the claims process is a great benefit to our firm and our clients. Many of our clients are frustrated and anxious when their medical bills are not paid and they receive collection notices. Sometimes this results from improper billing practices. Local health care providers have invited him to present seminars to their business offices and customer service staff. He has presented these seminars at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Northwest Medical Center, the Vermont Chiropractic Association and many other providers.
Perhaps these seminars are popular because they are both informative and entertaining. John is an experienced storyteller. He performs before children and adults throughout Vermont. This photograph shows him weaving a tale before the Vermont Legislature.
