SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The jury reached a verdict on Friday in the trial of the St. Clare’s pensioners vs. the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. The jury found that the Diocese as a whole was not responsible for paying the former St. Clare’s workers their pensions, but several members and former members of the Diocese, including Edward Scharfenberger and Howard Hubbard, were responsible.
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The jury decided that the pensioners are to be awarded $54.2 million for their pensions from those members determined to be responsible.
The diocese issued the following statement after the verdict: “As grateful as we are for the jury’s informed decision, we are still very much aware of the hurt felt by the St. Clare’s pensioners who cared for the sick and the poor throughout the long history of St, Clare’s hospital. This does not mean that we will turn our backs to the pensioners for as Bishop O’Connell has noted, they are a part of our flock; they are still in need of healing.”
The pensioners wrapped up their emotional testimonies on November 25. Closing statements in the trial were made on Thursday. The jury deliberated all day on Friday, reaching a verdict around 5 p.m…