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Catholic diocese settles wrongful-death lawsuit during jury selection in … – Kansas City Star

By JUDY L. THOMAS The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese has settled a wrongful-death lawsuit for $ 2.25 million with the parents of a boy who allegedly took his own life 30 years ago because of repeated sexual abuse by a Kansas City priest.

File photo Brian Teeman, 14, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in November 1983 at the family’s home in Independence.
File photo by SHANE KEYSER | The Kansas City Star Donald Teeman (from left), Jackie Teeman, Rosemary Teemanand Jon David Couzens held photos of Brian Teeman in September 2011 outside the headquarters of Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph as they announced a new civil lawsuit accusing Msgr. Thomas J. O’Brien of causing Brian Teeman’s death in 1983. A civil trial in the wrongful-death lawsuit begins Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court in Independence.

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The settlement — the largest ever for the diocese in a single priest sexual abuse lawsuit — came on Monday afternoon as jury selection was underway for the trial in Jackson County Circuit Court in Independence.
“This is one of the most significant cases we’ve ever worked on,” said Rebecca Randles, the attorney for Donald and Rosemary Teeman, who filed the lawsuit against the diocese and Monsignor Thomas J. O’Brien in 2011 after a man who served as an altar boy with their son, Brian, told them of the alleged abuse. Brian Teeman, 14, died of a gunshot wound in November 1983 at the family’s home in Independence.
“This allows everyone to put this behind them,” Randles said. “It allows closure at this point in time. And it sends a message that no matter how long ago something like this happens, there [...]

By jwj|July 9th, 2013|News|Comments Off|

Wrongful Death in Missouri and Kansas – U.S. Politics Today

Just like any form of personal injury law, wrongful death suits may be based on negligence or intentional acts.
KANSAS CITY, MO, October 12, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ — A wrongful death lawsuit occurs when someone dies as a result of the actions of another person or company and his or her heirs seek compensation for the death of their relative. Just like any form of personal injury law, wrongful death suits may be based on negligence or intentional acts. There is more likely to be insurance coverage if the death was caused by someone else’s negligence. An experienced personal injury attorney can help determine if there is negligence involved when negligence may not appear obvious. See our article on Personal Injury Law for more information.
There are specific laws governing wrongful death lawsuits including caps or maximum amounts that can be collected. In Missouri and Kansas, the settlement of a wrongful death lawsuit must be approved by a Court. This is called a “friendly suit.” Often times the settlement hearing is non adversarial as all parties want it resolved and just need the Court’s approval. However, as can be the case in Hollywood movies, sometimes there are disputes between family members over distribution and allocation of the proceeds. These disputes can be very grievous in light of the surrounding circumstances: the death of a loved one.
The heirs of a deceased person can seek compensation in many ways in a wrongful death suit, both for themselves and for the Estate of their loved one who has passed. The benchmark for any settlement is what is fair and just based on considerations such as the following (the factors considered vary from state to state):
– Medical [...]

By jwj|October 13th, 2012|News|Comments Off|