February 22, 2006

Judge dismisses church abuse civil lawsuit

ALASKA
Anchorage Daily News

The Associated Press

Published: February 21, 2006
Last Modified: February 21, 2006 at 06:38 PM

FAIRBANKS - A judge on Tuesday dismissed a civil lawsuit filed against the Fairbanks Catholic diocese and another Catholic organization by a woman who claimed to have been sexually abused by a priest.

Nome Superior Court Judge Ben Esch ruled the woman, who claimed she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by the Rev. James Poole more than two decades ago, waited too long to report the alleged abuse, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported Tuesday on its Web site.

"This will be seen as unjust by many people, but is, I believe, required by the laws of the State of Alaska and the decisions of the Alaska Supreme Court," Esch wrote.

Esch similarly in December dismissed Jane Doe 2's lawsuit against Poole, also saying she waited too long to report the alleged abuse.

Posted by kshaw at February 22, 2006 09:17 AM