Bishop Walker Sex Lawsuit Dismissed
By Bob Smietana
A judge has dismissed most of the claims in a lawsuit filed against Bishop Joseph Walker III of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Former church member Valencia Batson had sued Walker, Mt. Zion and several other ministers earlier this year for alleged sexual abuse. Church leaders have called the allegations ridiculous in the past. Walker’s attorneys argued that the statute of limitations had passed for most of Batson’s claims and that some of the other claims in the suit were improperly filed. Court documents show that the last time Walker and Batson had physical or verbal contact was in January 2005. Any claim of sexual abuse had a one-year statute of limitations. At a hearing Thursday morning, Davidson County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Brothers granted a motion to dismiss the suit against Walker. “That means the charges against Walker are gone,” said his attorney Bob Boston, of the law firm Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis. Walker said in a statement Thursday afternoon that he was thankful for the judge’s decision. “I am grateful to the Lord and grateful to the judge for the ruling that properly dismisses these allegations against me and my beloved Mt. Zion church,” he said. “After all the negative publicity as the other side appeared determined to try, and re-try, all of this in the media, it is obviously gratifying that the case against me has been dismissed with prejudice, meaning that it is over.” Congregation members at Mt. Zion are also pleased with Thursday’s ruling, said Lawrence Washington, spokesperson for Mt. Zion. Washington said dealing with the lawsuit had been difficult for the church. “Now all the accusations against the bishop and the original allegations against Mt. Zion have been dismissed,” he said in a statement. “Our faith has sustained us, and the life of our church remains strong.” Judge Brothers also granted nonsuits against Jerry Luren White, general overseer of fiscal management at Mt. Zion, and the Rev. Michael E. Williams, pastor of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville. That means both are dismissed from Batson’s lawsuit but, unlike Walker, could be sued in the future. Batson’s lawyer, Nashville attorney Connie Allison, had filed an amended lawsuit last week, with additional allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement. But Judge Brothers rejected that amended complaint at Thursday morning’s hearing. Allison had no comment about Thursday’s ruling. Judge Brothers did make one ruling in favor of Batson’s lawsuit Thursday. She alleges that White sexually assaulted her in February 2011, while she was meeting with him to discuss renting office space from the church. Batson claims that the church is liable for White’s actions. Judge Brothers ruled that her lawsuit could continue based on the allegations against White. In November, a judge dismissed a lawsuit by former Mt. Zion parishioner Corey Corbin — in part because the statute of limitations had expired. Corbin alleged a marriage-destroying affair between Walker and Corbin’s wife. Contact Bob Smietana at 615-259-8228 or bsmietana@tennessean.com
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