The South Carolina appeals court supported a 2017 lower court ruling that the diocese and lawyers who filed a collective sexual abuse case do not have to respond to victims who were not formally included in the process.
In court cases, anonymous plaintiffs argued that Mount Pleasant’s lawyer, Larry Richter, had neglected to include them in a class action against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, preventing them from receiving the proceeds of the case alongside other victims of abuse. sexual.
The diocese includes churches throughout the state of Palmetto.
Both parties were accused of “seeking” a judge who would allow an agreement that would provide known victims with a maximum payment at the expense of out-of-state survivors who had not formally joined the process.
A circuit court judge denied his stay in a summary trial, saying the facts of the case were straightforward and would not require a trial to determine. The plaintiffs said this was inappropriate, but the appellate court upheld the decision in a March 3 ruling.
“We knew all along, in terms of the legal position, that this guy had invented one,” Richter told the Post and Courier. “But it is a resounding victory, now we are finished.”
Richter and the diocese agree that the decision could affect a handful of cases in which Richter is representing survivors of sexual abuse by religious leaders.
“As before, we believe that the courts will enforce the law and reject claims against the diocese,” said Maria Aselage, director of media relations for the diocese.
The church has been mired in legal struggles for years, with several South Carolinaians coming forward to accuse church leaders of sexually abusing them or covering up their colleagues since the 1950s.
More recently, Richter filed a $ 300 million lawsuit against the diocese and Bishop England High School, saying that the leaders ‘neglect allowed employees to watch the children undress through the windows of the students’ locker rooms.
This case is pending.
Talk to Sara Coello at 843-901-2995 and follow her on Twitter @smlcoello.