ACTIVITY Picks up in Clergy Sex-abuse Suits

By P.J. D'Annunzio
Legal Intelligencer
February 24, 2015

http://www.thelegalintelligencer.com/home/id=1202718774293/Activity-Picks-Up-in-Clergy-SexAbuse-Suits?mcode=1202617075166&curindex=0&slreturn=20150125014748

The plaintiff in a priest sex-abuse case is appealing a Philadelphia judge’s ruling that the statute of limitations barred his claims. Meanwhile, the case that will be the second priest sex-abuse lawsuit to go to trial in Philadelphia is set to head to the courtroom in early March.

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Jacqueline F. Allen said the statute of limitations ran on plaintiff Philip Gaughan’s claims against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 2000, two years after he turned 18. Gaughan claimed he suffered psychological trauma from being sexually abused by a priest from 1994 to 1997.

According to Allen’s memorandum, Gaughan alleged that he didn’t realize the abuse had caused a psychological injury until 2010. Gaughan’s lawsuit was filed in 2011.

Malvern-based attorney Daniel Monahan, who handles the bulk of the clergy abuse cases in Philadelphia, represents Gaughan.

In arguing that the statute of limitations be tolled, Monahan said, “We’re trying to convince the appellate courts that the sex-abuse cases are like any type of latent disease case where people don’t know about it until very late in life.”