COLUMBUS (OH)
The Cincinnati Post
Associated Press
COLUMBUS - The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to resolve conflicting appeals court decisions on deadlines for filing sexual abuse lawsuits against churches or priests.
Arguments were scheduled for today in a case in which an appeals court ruled against the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's attempts to limit filing. Another appeals court previously issued a narrower interpretation that benefited the church.
"The dilemma for the court is trying to find a way where worthy plaintiffs can bring worthy causes of action without completely undermining the rationale behind the statute of limitations," Konrad Kircher, the attorney for one of the "John Doe" plaintiffs, said Tuesday.
Several lawsuits by people who said they were abused as children have accused the Roman Catholic archdiocese and Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of negligently hiring the priests, hiding the abuse and inflicting emotional distress. Most were thrown out based on state laws setting deadlines for filing complaints over sexual abuse of a minor.