Attorney says second client was abused by priest

BELLEVILLE -- A lawyer whose client won a $5 million verdict against the Catholic Diocese of Belleville over allegations of sexual abuse says he has a second case to bring to trial.

Belleville attorney Mike Weilmuenster says he has filed suit on behalf of a second man who claims he was sexually abused by the Reverend Raymond Kownacki decades ago.

On Wednesday, a jury awarded $5 million to 47-year-old James Wisniewski (wihs-NOO'-skee). He had claimed the diocese knew Kownacki was a danger to children but did nothing.

The attorney says a second man identified in court papers as "John Doe" was an altar boy at St. Theresa's Parish in Salem when Kownacki began molesting him in 1979.

Kownacki has not been charged criminally and has not commented on the allegations.