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	Loveland Pastors Face Civil Suit for Failing to Disclose Abuse By Sara Reed SaraReed@coloradoan.com The Coloradoan September 11, 2007 http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/UPDATES01/70911009 A civil suit has been filed against three Loveland pastors for failing to disclose alleged sexual abuse by a church member. In July, pastors Jim Rice, Thad Gunderson and Eric Mowen of Gateway Baptist Church were charged with misdemeanors for failing to report a series of alleged sexual assaults by Paul Lavertu, a member of the church. Those alleged assaults date back to 2005, according to police. Today, Jim Avery filed a civil suit against the three pastors for failing to report the abuse to police when they became aware of it. Avery represents the parents of a 10-year-old boy who was allegedly assaulted by Lavertu in early July, after the pastors became aware of the past alleged incidents. "The pastors were still in a position to stop the abuse," Avery said. Lavertu was referred to the boy's grandparents, who had custody of the boy, to help the boy with a project, Avery said. The grandparents have also been named in the suit, Avery said. Colorado law prohibits plaintiffs from making specific monetary claims for damages, Avery said. Damages are left to the discretion of the jury, he said.
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