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Photo: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, Minnesota, via Wikipedia.
A Minnesota jury has awarded $7.6 million to a survivor who alleged sexual abuse by a Catholic priest in the 1970s, holding the Diocese of Winona accountable in one of the largest post-bankruptcy verdicts the region has seen, the Grand Forks Herald reported today.
On June 30, after a weeklong trial in Olmsted County, the jury returned its decision in favor of the plaintiff, known as Doe 254. The case stems from the 2013 Minnesota Child Victims Act, which opened a three-year window allowing survivors of child sexual abuse to file previously expired claims. More than 100 lawsuits emerged under the Act before the window closed in 2016.
Doe 254 filed suit in 2021, alleging sexual misconduct and institutional negligence. The trial focused solely on damages after the Diocese had already admitted negligence. The plaintiff, now 68, was abused by former priest and high school principal Joseph Cashman between 1973 and 1976.
The jury awarded $7 million for past damages, including pain, emotional distress, and disability; $500,000 for future damages; and $100,000 for healthcare expenses.
A plaintiff’s attorney said the verdict marked one of the most meaningful moments in his four-decade career and described the plaintiff’s motivation as deeply rooted in protecting other children. “He feels that he has done something real to expose the problems in the diocese and in the Catholic church hierarchy,” the attorney said. “That was his first and most important priority.”
The Diocese of Winona-Rochester acknowledged Cashman’s abuse history in a post-trial statement, confirming he was ordained in 1960, served as principal of Lourdes High School from 1970 to 1977, and was suspended from ministry in 1992. The statement noted the jury’s verdict falls under the Diocese’s existing bankruptcy reorganization plan, which allocated over $22 million for survivor compensation. As such, the award will not result in new financial liability for the Diocese, its schools, or parishes.
Citing the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the Diocese reiterated its commitment to transparency and safety. “We pray for the survivor that was involved in this case, as well as all individuals who have been affected by clergy abuse,” wrote Vicar General Rev. William Thompson.
In 2025, three additional personal injury lawsuits alleging abuse by clergy were filed against the Diocese. Although the complaints were recently filed, their draft dates indicate they’ve been pending for over nine years. The cases are set for hearings in October 2025 and January 2026. A plaintiff’s attorney involved in those cases expressed hope that the recent verdict will encourage more survivors to come forward.
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