Fla. Baptist Convention Asked to Reconsider Appeal

San Francisco Chronicle
February 10, 2014

http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Fla-Baptist-Convention-asked-to-reconsider-appeal-5224634.php

An organization that helps sex abuse victims is asking the Florida Baptist Convention not to appeal a $12.5 million damage award to a young man who was abused by a Baptist minister as a child.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest sent a letter Tuesday to Florida Baptist Convention, stressing that an appeal would hurt the victim in the case and other victims abused by clergy.

After last month's verdict, attorney Gary Yeldell said the convention is confident an appellate court would overturn the ruling. He maintained that minister Douglas Myers was an independent pastor and not supervised by the convention.

The man who accused the minister is remaining anonymous. He is in his 20s and attending college.