December 12, 2005

Assembly may end charities' immunity from sex abuse suits

TRENTON (NJ)
philly.com

JEFFREY GOLD
Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. - Legislation that would allow childhood victims of sexual assault to sue churches, schools and other nonprofits for the actions of their employees is scheduled for a vote Monday in the state Assembly.

The measure is opposed by the Roman Catholic church, but if passed is likely to become law, since acting Gov. Richard J. Codey already voted for it in his role in the state Senate when it passed that house in May 2004, said a sponsor, Sen. Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex.

Vitale said that although a lawsuit can't remove the trauma for victims, "This will give them the justice that they all deserve, both today and in the future."

The bill would change the law that now shields charities from liability. New Jersey is one of only three states in the country where charities are immune from lawsuits. The others are Alabama and Tennessee.

Posted by kshaw at December 12, 2005 07:01 AM