A Superior Court judge has ruled against the Fairbanks Catholic diocese in the case of a now-deceased lay volunteer who was accused of sexually abusing scores of western Alaska children. The Fairbanks diocese had claimed it wasn't liable for Joseph Lundowski's abusive conduct while he was under the supervision of Jesuit priest George Endal from about 1959 to 1975.
Superior Court Judge Niejse Steinkruger (NEE'-sha STINE'-croo-ger) issued the partial summary judgment Tuesday on a motion initially filed in May by the plaintiffs' attorneys.
The ruling is not a verdict and does not automatically preclude a trial.
Lundowski died in Chicago in 1996, at age 81. He is named in 60 of 132 sexual abuse claims against the diocese.
The 60 plaintiffs were among 110 who reached a $50 million settlement in November with the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province and Alaska.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce