PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Review
By Craig Smith
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
An attorney representing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg in a clergy sexual abuse case said he'll ask a judge to dismiss the lawsuit in light of a Pennsylvania Superior Court decision.
Attorney Eric Anderson, representing the diocese, said he'll file a motion to dismiss the case, which was brought against the diocese by Terrance J. Zawacki, based on the ruling by three Superior Court judges.
"It's a sweeping decision that will have significant impact," he said.
Zawacki, 53, alleges that he was abused about 43 years ago by a priest who died in 1991. The case is pending before Westmoreland County Judge Daniel Ackerman.
The appeals court judges, in tossing out 18 cases against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Tuesday, said that under Pennsylvania law, claims for intentional conduct, negligence and conduct based in fraud are subject to a two-year statute of limitations.
That ruling, attorneys said, becomes the law of the land, pending an appeal.
Posted by kshaw at March 16, 2005 05:52 AM