December 10, 2004

Archdiocese Not Liable In Suit

MILFORD (CT)
Hartford Courant

December 10, 2004
Associated Press

MILFORD -- A Superior Court judge has ruled that the Archdiocese of Hartford cannot be held liable for a West Haven priest's alleged sexual relationship with a female parishioner.

This week, Judge Patrick Carroll dismissed Doreen Ahern's lawsuit against the archdiocese, saying that since another judge ruled Matthew Kappalumakkel could not be held personally liable, the archdiocese cannot be held liable, either.

The key issue was whether Kappalumakkel breached a "fiduciary" relationship with Ahern, as her priest, by allegedly having sex with her. Judge Angela Robinson ruled in March that he did not.

Ahern, formerly of West Haven, alleged in the 3-year-old lawsuit that she had had a four-year relationship with Kappalumakkel.

Posted by kshaw at December 10, 2004 09:47 AM