Turner v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vermont
Vermont Supreme Court
186 Vt. 396, 987 A.2d 960 (2009)
- Written by Liz Nakamura, JD
Facts
Father Alfred Willis was a priest for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vermont (the diocese) (defendant). In 1977, Willis sexually assaulted James Turner (plaintiff), a 16-year-old parishioner. In 2004, Turner sued the diocese, alleging that the diocese’s negligent hiring, retention, and supervision of Willis caused Turner’s injuries, including both the initial sexual assault and the long-term consequences of the sexual assault. The jury found that the diocese was negligent, but that Turner’s suit was time-barred by the six-year statute of limitations for child sexual-abuse cases. However, the trial judge held that the jury’s statute of limitations ruling lacked evidentiary support and imposed negligence liability on the diocese. The diocese appealed, arguing that imposing negligence liability on the diocese violated the Free Exercise Clause, the Establishment Clause, and the religious-autonomy doctrine because the supervision of clergy was an ecclesiastical matter. Turner cross-appealed, arguing that the trial court erred by failing to excuse a juror who was a member of the diocese.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Dooley, J.)
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