NASHVILLE (TN)
Lexington Herald-Leader
By Matt Gouras
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NASHVILLE - Tennessee's Supreme Court has allowed a $68 million child sexual abuse lawsuit against the Roman Catholic diocese of Nash-ville to move ahead in a unanimous ruling issued yesterday that sets a new standard for reckless infliction of emotional distress cases.
John Day, lead attorney in the civil case, says the decision holds people accountable for irresponsible behavior, in this case concealing a known pedophile.
The Nashville diocese, in a statement, said it was disappointed.
"We were certainly looking forward to a final resolution of this case," said spokesman Rick Musacchio. "As we have done from the outset, we maintain that our responses to the facts of this case were proper and appropriate, and will allow the legal process to go forward."
In Kentucky, the Louisville Diocese in 2003 reached a $25.7 million settlement with 247 plaintiffs who said they were victims of sex abuse. Last week a Lexington woman, Kay Montgomery, settled one of the last remaining lawsuits against the Covington Diocese over sex abuse by priests.
Posted by kshaw at January 19, 2005 07:34 AM