ROCHESTER, Minn. — An Olmsted County jury has awarded $7.6 million to a man in a civil lawsuit against the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, stemming from allegations of sexual abuse that occurred more than 50 years ago.
The plaintiff, now in his late 60s, claims he was abused by Rev. Joseph Cashman during his childhood from 1973 to 1976. At that time, Cashman served as principal at Lourdes High School in Rochester. This case is part of a broader wave of litigation this year against the diocese, which recently reached a $21.5 million settlement with 145 victims who had experienced sexual abuse at the hands of its clergy.
Included in the settlement was $6.5 million from two insurance companies; however, one significant insurer, U.S. Fire, was not part of the agreement. The jury’s ruling holds U.S. Fire liable for its role, a development that could set a new precedent for how insurers handle claims related to clerical sexual abuse, according to the victim’s attorney, Jeff Anderson.
Anderson highlighted the implications of the jury’s decision, stating that it could transform the way the insurance industry addresses such allegations. “This breaks the barrier of the insurance industry,” he remarked, noting that U.S. Fire and other insurers have historically resisted payment. He believes this new ruling could instill hope in survivors across Minnesota and nationwide.
Rev. Cashman’s history of abuse allegations dates back to the 1960s, the decade in which he was ordained. Throughout his career, he served in various schools and parishes in southeastern Minnesota, including locations in Rochester, Mankato, and Winona.
In 1992, he faced suspension from active ministry, but it was not until 2015 that he was permanently removed after the diocese publicly identified him as one of 14 clergy members credibly accused of sexual misconduct involving minors. Cashman passed away in 2018 at the age of 84.
The ongoing legal challenges and settlements highlight the ongoing impact of clerical abuse on victims and signal a growing willingness among courts to address such historical cases more assertively.
This ruling could lead to further inquiries into the responsibilities of the church and its insurers, particularly as more survivors step forward to seek justice.
This article was automatically written by OpenAI, and the people, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate. Any article can be requested for removal, retraction, or correction by writing an email to contact@publiclawlibrary.org.