FORTNEY FAMILY SISTERS TO ANNOUNCE LAWSUIT AGAINST

NEWARK ARCHDIOCESE – AS NEW LAW GOES INTO EFFECT

PRESS CONFERENCE IN NEWARK

WHAT:

Fortney Family sisters Patty Fortney-Julius and Lara Fortney-McKeever, along with their attorney, Benjamin D. Andreozzi, Esq., will announce the filing of a civil lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Newark and the Diocese of Harrisburg (PA) under New Jersey’s newly enacted civil window legislation.  Patty and Lara’s lawsuit outlines former Newark Archdiocese priest Augustine Giella’s heinous sexual abuse of multiple Fortney family sisters at a very young age and the cover-up of his crimes by the Newark Archdiocese and Harrisburg Diocese.  Father Giella, a priest of the Newark Archdiocese, was later transferred to the Harrisburg Diocese, where he met the Fortney Family. He then sexually abused several of the young Fortney sisters in both Pennsylvania and on trips to his New Jersey summer home.  After years of silence, the Fortney sisters have become advocates for survivors of sexual abuse across the nation.  They now travel the country speaking on the issue of child sexual abuse and lobbying state legislatures to change laws that disadvantage survivors, including in New Jersey.  Several of the Fortney Family sisters will be available to answer questions regarding their journey and the filing of their civil case.

WHEN:

Monday, December 2, 2019

10 AM – 11 AM

The press conference will begin with brief Statements.

Excerpts from the priest’s deposition and photos will be made available.

Ben Andreozzi, Esq. and several of the Fortney sisters will be on hand for Q & A

WHERE:

Comfort Suites Newark-Harrison

1348 McCarter Hwy.

Newark, NJ 07104

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Ben Andreozzi Esq. and Lindsey Gibson paralegal

Andreozzi & Associates, P.C.

Lindsey@victimscivilattorneys.com

717-525-9124

717-714-1317 (cell)