ERIE (PA)
GoErie.com
August 16, 2020
By Ed Palattella
A total of 21 suits filed over claims of abuse cover-up as grand jury report, Superior Court ruling create options.
The Catholic Diocese of Erie is facing the potential of massive legal fallout two years after the release of the state grand jury report on clergy sex abuse statewide.
Prompted by the 884-page report’s allegations, 21 lawsuits had been filed in Erie County Court against the diocese, churches and related entities throughout the 13-county diocese as of the end of the day on Friday, according to an Erie Times-News’ review of the docket.
Statewide, Pennsylvania’s eight Roman Catholic dioceses had been hit with about 150 suits, according to the Associated Press.
As the Erie Times-News first reported in July, Friday was the deadline for plaintiffs to meet the two-year statute of limitations for filing fraud- and cover-up-related suits in connection with the release of the grand jury report. Attorney General Josh Shapiro issued the report on Aug. 14, 2018.
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