Wednesday, June 26, 2002
A.G.: Don't seal abuse lawsuits
By Lori Burling
The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE — Attorney General Ben Chandler has joined attorneys for more than 100 plaintiffs and a newspaper saying court documents concerning sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church should remain open to the public.
The Attorney General's Office filed a motion Tuesday in Jefferson County Circuit Court opposing a motion filed by the Archdiocese of Louisville to seal all documents claiming sexual abuse within the church.
More than 130 lawsuits have been filed against the archdiocese with the plaintiffs claiming they were sexually abused by employees or clergy members. The suits say church officials did not take appropriate action regarding their complaints. Names of the accused are included in the suits.
An attorney for the plaintiffs — William McMurry — and the Courier-Journal have previously filed a motion asking a judge to block the sealing of the documents.
Jefferson County Circuit Judge James Shake will hear arguments Thursday.
The archdiocese cites a 1998 state law calling for allegations of childhood sexual abuse more than 5 years old to be sealed. Most of the recent allegations are more than 30 years old. Lawyers for the plaintiffs and the Courier-Journal have claimed the law is unconstitutional.
The attorney general's motion claims the statute is constitutional, but it is being incorrectly interpreted by attorneys for the archdiocese.
“It doesn't apply to these cases,” Scott White, a deputy attorney general, said Tuesday.
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