From Deseret News archives:

2 ask Supreme Court to hear abuse case

Published: Friday, Sept. 24, 2004 11:00 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
A mother and son whose sexual abuse lawsuit against the LDS Church was dismissed have asked the Utah Supreme Court to hear their case.

The mother and son, referred to as Jane and John Doe, claim George Tilson, a man who served the church as a Scout leader and high priest, abused both of them when they were children. Their 2002 lawsuit against Tilson and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claimed the church knew the man's history of abuse but failed to tell police or other officials.

The trial court dismissed the lawsuit, saying the statute of limitations had run out on Jane Doe's claims of negligence and breach of trust. She alleged she was abused in 1976. The lower court dismissed the son's claims because legal action for negligently permitting sexual abuse had to be brought against a "living person," not a corporation, which the church is.

The appeals court upheld the ruling and also said the alleged abuse "occurred in Tilson's house and was unrelated to (the church) or any of its activities."

The brief filed Monday with Utah's high court seeks a review of the case, claiming the church failed to report Tilson's history of abuse to authorities.

The church has disputed all of the allegations.

Story continues below
Church spokesman Dale Bills declined comment on the lawsuit Friday.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Guess if Meyer says he's staying at Florida then he definitely is headed to...

Bronco, Kyle rubber match

ummm utah...dominating Defense???...when?...which game this year has utah...

Is there a liberal that doesn't want Palin to run? :-) BTW, I read. I know...

I totally agree with the author.

I wish I was there what a great win!

RSL championship rally Tuesday

I bet these soccer haters never commented on badminton articles, 'cause they...

This game started out as a ho hum affair then got interesting in the 3rd and...

Letters: Gays' parades offensive

12:31 p.m. I wasn't refering to Earl's comment specifically. This isn't...

Crimes up against gays, religious

Wow, so you pick and choose what data you believe, then discount facts along...

'Savior of the World' in Spanish

This could be a sting.

Advertisements