VIRGINIA BEACH (VA)
The Virginian-Pilot
By JON FRANK, The Virginian-Pilot
© June 11, 2005
A judge has excused two key defendants in a civil lawsuit filed by a Virginia Beach man who was sexually molested by a Catholic nun 35 years ago, when he was in the fifth grade.
Norfolk Circuit Judge Joseph A. Leafe ruled Wednesday that the Catholic Diocese of Richmond and the convent of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, cannot be sued by the man, according to Virginia law.
Both were named as defendants in a $5.35 million lawsuit filed last year in Norfolk Circuit Court.
Also named as a defendant was Eileen M. Rhoads, the former nun, who is now in her 60s.
After Leafe’s decision, Rhoads remains the sole defendant in the law suit, said James C. Lewis, the attorney who filed it.
“Although we are very disappointed, we certainly understand and respect Judge Leafe’s rationale in arriving at his decision,” he said.
Posted by kshaw at June 11, 2005 07:19 AM