Court Rejects Claims Against Diocese By Victim of Clergy Sexual Abuse

In John Doe v. Corporation of the Catholic Bishop of Yakima, (ED WA, June 12, 2014), a Washington federal district court  dismissed negligent supervision and negligent infliction of emotional distress claims against the Diocese of Yakima brought by the victim of an incident of sexual abuse perpetrated by a deacon that occurred when the victim was 17 years old. While finding that the suit was not barred by the statute of limitations, the court held that no special relationship existed between the diocese and plaintiff, and the diocese had no reason to believe that the deacon posed a risk of inappropriate sexual conduct. National Catholic Reporter reports on the decision.