Judge questions jurisdiction in church sex abuse lawsuits

By Janela Carrera
Pacific News Center
April 24, 2017

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/local/13395

Guam - In related news, some of the church sex abuse cases will be held in abeyance as a federal court judge determines diversity jurisdiction.

The matter came up today during what was supposed to be a scheduling conference for six of the 43 cases filed in District Court so far. Magistrate Judge Joaquin Manibusan raised issues regarding jurisdiction since the plaintiffs in these six particular cases reside off-island and the alleged perpetrator, Father Louis Brouillard also is no longer a resident of Guam.

The six cases in today’s hearing were filed by Leo Tudela, Norman Aguon, James Bascon, Bruce Diaz, Vicente Perez and Anthony Vegafria, all of whom accused Brouillard of sexually abusing them when they were minors. Brouillard, at the time, was serving both as priest of different parishes and as Scout Master for the Boy Scouts.

Manibusan pointed out that since the plaintiffs and the defendant no longer reside on Guam, questions of their citizenship may come up.

But the plaintiffs' attorney David Lujan said he's confident citizenship will not be an issue.

"He is as American pie as you can get," Lujan said referring to Brouillard's citizenship.

Judge Manibusan noted that since there are pending motions in several of the cases for dismissal and for consolidation, until the question of diversity jurisdiction is resolved, the cases will be held in abeyance.