AUSTRALIA
Queensland Sunday Mail
By David King
27jul05
JOHN Andrew Ellis says he was a high-flying lawyer at Baker&McKenzie when memories of childhood sexual abuse resurfaced and ruined his career.
The former equity partner lost his job in May last year after his partners found he was unable to manage staff.
Mr Ellis says this problem stemmed directly from 12 years of sexual abuse inflicted by a now deceased Catholic priest, Aidan Duggan.
But the church argues it cannot be held liable for any damages claim because Duggan was not employed by the Sydney Archdiocese. Rather, priests have "a contract with God" and not with their employer.
Mr Ellis's lawyers launched legal action in the NSW Supreme Court yesterday in a bid to extend the statute of limitations on the alleged abuse and sue the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney for damages and loss of income.