The plaintiff in a priest sex-abuse case is appealing a Philadelphia judge’s ruling that the statute of limitations barred his claims. Meanwhile, the case that will be the second priest sex-abuse lawsuit to go to trial in Philadelphia is set to head to the courtroom in early March.
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Jacqueline F. Allen said the statute of limitations ran on plaintiff Philip Gaughan’s claims against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 2000, two years after he turned 18. Gaughan claimed he suffered psychological trauma from being sexually abused by a priest from 1994 to 1997.
According to Allen’s memorandum, Gaughan alleged that he didn’t realize the abuse had caused a psychological injury until 2010. Gaughan’s lawsuit was filed in 2011.
Malvern-based attorney Daniel Monahan, who handles the bulk of the clergy abuse cases in Philadelphia, represents Gaughan.
In arguing that the statute of limitations be tolled, Monahan said, “We’re trying to convince the appellate courts that the sex-abuse cases are like any type of latent disease case where people don’t know about it until very late in life.”
The developments in the Gaughan case come just over a month after the first clergy-abuse case settlement in Philadelphia, according to Monahan. The details of the settlement are confidential and Monahan said his client wishes to remain anonymous.
Nicholas Centrella of Conrad O’Brien represents the archdiocese and did not return calls seeking comment.
The next clergy case headed to trial is John Doe 187 v. Archdiocese of Philadelphia, scheduled for early March.
A fuller version of this article will be posted later when the article is completed.
Activity Picks Up in Clergy Sex-Abuse Suits | The Legal Intelligencer
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