Stratton Faxon is representing a second victim against now-suspended parish priest Stephen Bzdrya. The new plaintiff filed a lawsuit on Aug. 5, 2010 in Waterbury Superior Court.
A second victim filed suit a lawsuit on Aug. 5, 2010 against Stephen Bzdrya, a Catholic priest who is now suspended from his priestly duties.
A Watertown man, formerly a student at St. Hedwig’s School, and a parishioner at the associated church in Naugatuck, Connecticut, recalled being taken into the school basement, ostensibly to be disciplined for bad behavior by Father Bzdrya. It was there that Bzdrya pulled down the second-grader’s pants, spanked him, and then turned him over, sweating and moaning, to fondle the boy’s genitals. The plaintiff, choosing to remain anonymous for the time being, was only 7 years old. He was then threatened by Bzdrya not to tell anyone and was sent back to class. As a little boy, the plaintiff remembers feeling hurt, confused and above all, terrified.
The victim, upon turning 18, shared his story of abuse with his parents and other close friends, but was afraid to come forward publicly until he saw another victim of Bzdrya, William Dotson, on the news in early July. Hearing the story, he was re-traumatized and shaken by his own childhood memories, and decided to contact Stratton Faxon, the law firm handling the case. The plaintiff hopes to help other victims by coming forward and also wants Bzdrya to be held accountable for his actions.
“This monster should have been shut down long ago,” said Attorney Joel T. Faxon of Stratton Faxon. “Unfortunately, it took the fortitude of two individuals through our legal system to do the job the diocese could not.”
Bzdrya, surrounded by groups of young boys in his Facebook photos, was fired in July 2010 by his former parish, Saint Augustine’s in Seymour, Connecticut. An investigation by the diocese, although belated by many years, is pending. It is a certainty that although adults, at least two men who were victimized by Bzdrya will be forever haunted by events in their pasts. As for this second plaintiff, a mere 7-year-old at the time of the horrific acts, he will have his worst childhood memory being alone, naked and vulnerable in a dark basement, while being abused by the man whom he trusted the most – seared into his psyche as long as he lives.
To learn more, visit http://www.strattonfaxon.com.
