Quote:Attorney: Priest gave sharp, unemotional answers on Guam child abuses.USA Today:
'Hagatna, Guam — Former Guam priest Louis Brouillard did not show much emotion and remained fairly sharp
mentally when he provided, over a four-day period, information about the "tragic circumstances that allowed him
to have access to Guam's children for many years," according to one of the attorneys involved in more than 140
lawsuits accusing Brouillard of child sex abuse.
Brouillard's Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 deposition in Pine City, Minnesota, where he lives, brought together attorneys for
most plaintiffs and defendants from different parts of the nation.
Seattle-based attorney Steven T. Reich, a partner at the law firm Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala, said Brouillard
was deposed over four days, and he "remained fairly sharp mentally, and cooperative throughout."
"I asked Mr. Brouillard many pointed questions, and he appeared to make a genuine effort to provide honest
answers. With regard to Mr. Brouillard’s demeanor, he did not show much emotion, and was rather matter of
fact during his testimony," said Reich, whose law firm works with Guam attorney Kevin Fowler in representing
clergy sex abuse accusers.
Brouillard, 96, is the only accused island clergy member who has publicly admitted to abusing children while
on Guam. In phone interviews and a signed affidavit late last year, he stated that he sexually abused more than
20 boys on Guam. He is accused in 87 of 142 lawsuits to date.
"Overall, I was satisfied with the information we were able to gather (last) week about the tragic circumstances
that allowed Mr. Brouillard to have access to Guam’s children for many years," Reich said.
All the parties agreed to depose Brouillard for three hours a day, for a total of 12 hours.
At the deposition, Brouillard was accompanied by his attorney, Thomas Wieser of the St. Paul-based law firm
Meier, Kennedy and Quinn.
Brouillard served as a priest on Guam from 1948 to 1981 and was also a scout master for the Boy Scouts of
America.
The Diocese of Duluth had confirmed that Brouillard was sent from Guam to Minnesota for "help with his personal
problems" in 1981 and later barred from serving as a priest after questions arose about a young house guest from
the island.
Three recent lawsuits accused Brouillard of separately bringing Guam boys to Minnesota in the '80s and continuing
to sexually abuse them there.
No mediation deal reached
Most parties in the Guam clergy sex abuse lawsuits are pursuing mediation to try to settle the cases out of court.
Brouillard's deposition comes during a pre-mediation information gathering process, with parties hoping to hold
a formal mediation in March.
Reich said the attorneys for all parties did meet briefly in Minnesota last week to discuss the potential mediation
protocols.
"Out of respect for the process, I do not want to comment on the areas of disagreement, but additional discussions
are possible," he said.
In previous status hearings in federal court, attorneys told the judge that among the areas the parties still could not
agree on include whether or not it would be a global or individual settlement, and how soon the defendants should
compensate the victims after formal mediation is over. The parties have yet to formally select a mediator...'
Bit by precious bit.
This one is important, it is the duration of his preying that could assist.
Edith Head Gives Good Wardrobe.