PORTLAND, Maine - A Maine man who accused a Haiti orphanage founder of molesting boys is appealing a defamation verdict.
Attorneys for Paul Kendrick contend Michael Geilenfeld didn't have jurisdiction to sue in federal court because he was living outside the U.S. when he filed his complaint. The appeal also contends his testimony was key to damages awarded North Carolina-based charity, Hearts with Haiti.
Kendrick has accused Geilenfeld, founder of St. Joseph Home for Boys, of being a serial pedophile.
A federal jury in July awarded $7 million to Geilenfeld, who denied the abuse allegations, and another $7.5 million to a North Carolina-based charity, Hearts of Haiti.
The abuse allegations haven't gone away. Police continue to investigate accusations in Haiti, where police padlocked the orphanage and sought to detain Geilenfeld.