Brothers drop punitive claims against Wis. diocese - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

Brothers drop punitive claims against Wis. diocese

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By Jennifer Kliese - bio | email

APPLETON (WKOW) -- Two brothers have dropped their claims for punitive damages against the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay.

Todd and Troy Merryfield said that their civil fraud lawsuit against the diocese wasn't about money, but to bring long-held secrets to light.

An Outagamie County judge dismissed all claims for punitive damages against the diocese. On Monday, a jury awarded the brothers $700,000 in compensatory damages.

The brothers alleged that the Diocese of Green Bay knew the Rev. John Feeney had a history of molesting children. In 2004, Feeney was convicted of sexually assaulting the Merryfields in 1978 and was defrocked.

In a statement Wednesday, the diocese repeated its apology to the Merryfield family.

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