TOLEDO (OH)
Toledo Blade
By JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU
COLUMBUS - Both sides of a controversial bill allowing victims of child sexual abuse as long as 35 years ago to file lawsuits have been meeting over the summer in an attempt to hammer out a compromise.
But both sides so far appear to be firm in their positions on the most controversial aspect of the bill which, although affecting all forms of sexual abuse, is squarely aimed at the Catholic Church.
Rep. John Willamowski (R., Lima), chairman of the Ohio House Judiciary Committee, said he doesn't plan to hold hearings on the bill until he believes the talks have gone as far as they can.
"I don't want to bring emotion into it until it's time to bring emotion in," he said. "As soon as we start having hearings, sides will be drawn, and we won't make progress."
The Senate unanimously approved the bill in March following emotional testimony in committee by victims of past abuse. This occurred in a Republican-controlled chamber that has moved in recent years to close the door to litigation, not open it.
The bill would extend the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits involving all child sex abuse cases to 20 years beyond the point at which the victim turns 18. The current limit is two years.