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American Morning
Interview With Mitchell Garabedian
Aired August 25, 2003 - 08:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There's an autopsy planned today for former priest and convicted child molester John Geoghan. Authorities say it appears that Geoghan was strangled by another inmate Saturday at a prison in Massachusetts. But for the hundreds of plaintiffs who are charging that extensive sexual abuse by clergy took place in the Boston Archdiocese, what does the Geoghan death mean now? Mitchell Garabedian an attorney who represents about 120 of those plaintiffs, joins us live this morning in Boston. Good to have you back here. Good morning to you.
MITCHELL GARABEDIAN, ATTORNEY FOR ALLEGED SEX ABUSE VICTIMS: Thank you. Good morning.
HEMMER: All right what reaction are you getting from your clients regarding this news on Saturday?
GARABEDIAN: I'm getting mixed emotions. I'm getting a whole range of emotions. Some victims feel as though he's now going to meet his maker. It's judgment day for him. One victim, for instance, on the other end of this spectrum, is crying profusely because she feels as though she helped caused his death because she reported his abuse in the '90s.
But most victims, most victims, feel as though they wish he had done his time and faced further criminal charges. He had the potential of two more criminal cases pending, were pending, and that the public would be further informed if those cases went forward about his horrible acts.
HEMMER: Did you read the story this morning in "The Washington Post"? And if so, it appears it was a very brutal death. Has news of the details of the death gotten back to your clients, and was there a reaction based on that?
GARABEDIAN: I haven't had a chance to speak to my clients about that news, but I imagine it's going to hit them really hard.
These people are not vindictive people. These victims are not vengeful victims. They're very fragile individuals. They value life. They appreciate the kindness the public has shown them since they've come out and exposed Father Geoghan, or John Geoghan. It's going to hit them hard.
HEMMER: You initiated this in your first answer there about the cases that still remain and still pending. Is there an impact on those right now, or how do you perceive those going forward? GARABEDIAN: Well, with regard to the pending 26 civil cases I have, there really is no impact. I've been handling the Geoghan cases since 1994. I've collected an enormous amount of evidence with regard to Father Geoghan's activities and the negligence of his supervisors. And the cases will proceed with the enormous amount of evidence I have against the supervisors, if need be. I believe I can prove my case.
HEMMER: Mitchell Garabedian, thank you for stopping and talking with us today in Boston.
GARABEDIAN: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 25, 2003 - 08:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There's an autopsy planned today for former priest and convicted child molester John Geoghan. Authorities say it appears that Geoghan was strangled by another inmate Saturday at a prison in Massachusetts. But for the hundreds of plaintiffs who are charging that extensive sexual abuse by clergy took place in the Boston Archdiocese, what does the Geoghan death mean now? Mitchell Garabedian an attorney who represents about 120 of those plaintiffs, joins us live this morning in Boston. Good to have you back here. Good morning to you.
MITCHELL GARABEDIAN, ATTORNEY FOR ALLEGED SEX ABUSE VICTIMS: Thank you. Good morning.
HEMMER: All right what reaction are you getting from your clients regarding this news on Saturday?
GARABEDIAN: I'm getting mixed emotions. I'm getting a whole range of emotions. Some victims feel as though he's now going to meet his maker. It's judgment day for him. One victim, for instance, on the other end of this spectrum, is crying profusely because she feels as though she helped caused his death because she reported his abuse in the '90s.
But most victims, most victims, feel as though they wish he had done his time and faced further criminal charges. He had the potential of two more criminal cases pending, were pending, and that the public would be further informed if those cases went forward about his horrible acts.
HEMMER: Did you read the story this morning in "The Washington Post"? And if so, it appears it was a very brutal death. Has news of the details of the death gotten back to your clients, and was there a reaction based on that?
GARABEDIAN: I haven't had a chance to speak to my clients about that news, but I imagine it's going to hit them really hard.
These people are not vindictive people. These victims are not vengeful victims. They're very fragile individuals. They value life. They appreciate the kindness the public has shown them since they've come out and exposed Father Geoghan, or John Geoghan. It's going to hit them hard.
HEMMER: You initiated this in your first answer there about the cases that still remain and still pending. Is there an impact on those right now, or how do you perceive those going forward? GARABEDIAN: Well, with regard to the pending 26 civil cases I have, there really is no impact. I've been handling the Geoghan cases since 1994. I've collected an enormous amount of evidence with regard to Father Geoghan's activities and the negligence of his supervisors. And the cases will proceed with the enormous amount of evidence I have against the supervisors, if need be. I believe I can prove my case.
HEMMER: Mitchell Garabedian, thank you for stopping and talking with us today in Boston.
GARABEDIAN: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
