December 25, 2004

22 priest sex-abuse suits denied

CINCINNATI (OH)
Cincinnati Post

By Kimball Perry
Post staff reporter

Because they didn't report their allegations until after the statute of limitations had expired, 22 people who accused former Elder High principal Father Lawrence Strittmatter of sex abuse cannot proceed with lawsuits.

That was Thursday's ruling by the Cincinnati-based Ohio First District Court of Appeals in upholding earlier rulings by four Hamilton County judges.

Those four Common Pleas Court Judges -- Melba Marsh, Robert Ruehlman, Thomas Crush and David Davis -- threw out separate lawsuits brought by Strittmatter's accusers, saying the suits were filed after the two-year statute of limitations on such cases.

Those who sued accused Strittmatter of sexually abusing them when they were students at Elder or Our Lady of Victory Parish and School. The suits noted Strittmatter's abuse lasted from 1961 until at least 1987. Their suits were filed between May and November 2003.

Posted by kshaw at December 25, 2004 08:44 AM