This amicus brief was written in support of a Petition for Writ of Certioari where the Supreme Court of Montana concluded that the DNA provision was constitutional, but that it did not allow for the revival of previously expired claims. Issues include whether...
CHILD USA
IN RE: FORTIETH STATEWIDE INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY
This amicus brief was written in response to Defendant dioceses subjected to a grand jury investigation and its argument that private attorneys who have knowledge of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report must keep all information confidential. Issues include whether the...
IN RE JOHN DOE
This amicus letter was written to support a Petition for Writ of Mandamus where a Plaintiff’s lawsuit was barred based on the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine. Includes issue of whether a private school with a religious sounding name and/or loose religious...
Then and Now…
By Brian O’Leary “Ex-Saugerties High wrestling coach charged with 18 counts of rape.” I woke up the other day with a text from a friend who highlighted an article in the local newspaper which had the above headline. The school had hired a 30-year-old man to teach...
AND THE BEAT GOES ON in the Catholic ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO
By Tim Stier The Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco is in the midst of federal bankruptcy negotiations with over five hundred alleged sexual abuse victims. A primary motivation of Archbishop Cordileone for choosing bankruptcy over civil trials is to hide the...
Watching the Clock in California
Leslie C. Griffin* Do you remember Roman Polanski? Polanski, now 91 years old, is a famous movie director and actor, known, especially, for directing the films Rosemary’s Baby and Chinatown. He left the United States for France in 1978, after he pled guilty to having...
Settling Sex Abuse Cases Against Catholic California Clergymen
Leslie C. Griffin* Roman Polanski is a famous movie director and actor, known for directing the films Rosemary’s Baby and Chinatown. He left the United States for France in 1978, after he pled guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl, Samantha Geimer. He worried...
Has Maine Fought Catholic Sex Abuse?
by Leslie C. Griffin* I am waiting for the Maine Supreme Court to decide a case about sexual abuse and the statute of limitations [SOL].1 Statutes of limitations are rules that explain when the courts are open or closed to victims of abuse. I am particularly...
The History of Catholic Abuse in Maine
by Leslie C. Griffin* The abuse of children by Catholic clergy has a long history in the State of Maine. The Beginning Some initial news about Catholic Maine abuse was released when the Maine Supreme Court ordered it. In Blethen Maine Newspapers v. Maine, 871 A.2d 523...
The Maryland Supreme Court Should Find The Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 Constitutional
by Rob Jenner Jenner Law, P.C. Baltimore, Maryland Last month a dedicated team of lawyers presented oral argument before the Maryland Supreme Court in support of the Maryland Child Victims Act (CVA) of 2023. The heart of the legal battle concerned the statutory...