Bransfield
NEW CUMBERLAND – A circuit judge has consolidated eight cases in two Northern Panhandle counties regarding sexual abuse claims against the Catholic Church.
In a February 23 order, First Circuit Judge Michael Olejasz issued an order consolidating the cases against the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston before First Circuit Judge David Sims.
Four of the cases – all filed in Hancock County – involve allegations a former priest sexually abused men in the 1980s when he worked at St. Paul’s Catholic School in Weirton. One involves allegations a man was sexually assaulted by Father James J. Chetock when he attended Weirton Madonna High School in the late 1970s. Another involves allegations a man was sexually assaulted by Reverend Richard J. Schaefer while he was assigned to St. Philomena Catholic Church in Rowlesburg.
WHEELING A Wheeling couple claims a vehicle they purchased from Hyundai in Triadelphia had too many defects and should have been replaced.
Kathy L. Serig and Kevin A. Serig filed the lawsuit against Hyundai Motor Company and Hyundai Motor America on Nov. 30, 2019, for approximately $23,000 had several problems and they had to bring it to the dealership multiple times but the defects were not corrected, according to a complaint filed in Ohio Circuit Court.
The dealership failed to fix the problems with the Serigs vehicle despite numerous attempts and they reported the problems to the company while the vehicle still remained under warranty, according to the suit.
WHEELING – A former West Liberty University softball player says was a victim of hazing and even death threats by teammates, and she says the coach and athletic director did nothing about it.
Abigail Ferlin of Sharon, Pennsylvania, filed her complaint in Ohio Circuit Court against the school, softball Coach Herbert Minch, Athletic Director Lynn Ullom and teammate Dariah Smith.
According to the complaint, Ferlin says she reported a death threat made by Smith to Minch on October 30, 2018. He responded by saying, “Oh God, this isn’t good,” “We’ve been having other issues with her” and “It will be taken care of.”