Wednesday, January 19, 2005
TENNESSEE SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CASE AGAINST DIOCESE
Nashua Telegraph reports:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The state Supreme Court says a $68 million lawsuit alleging that the Roman Catholic diocese of Nashville covered up child sex abuse by a former priest can go forward.
The unanimous ruling issued Tuesday overturns lower courts which had said the diocese could not be held responsible for the emotional distress alleged by the plaintiffs.
The high court in its ruling said a defendant can be found guilty of inflicting emotional distress even if its misconduct was not directed at a specific person. The court said its decision broke new legal ground in such cases.
Is $68 million a large enough figure to bankrupt another diocese?
