Pool Maintainer Sues Stockton Diocese, Alleging Sexual Harassment, Wrongful Termination

By Jason Anderson
Stockton Record
August 12, 2016

http://www.recordnet.com/article/20160812/NEWS/160819881

Attorneys from a Southern California law firm announced Friday they have filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation by a pastor at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in San Joaquin County Superior Court, alleges that Monsignor Larry McGovern sent sexually explicit photographs to the victim, a pool maintenance contractor, and then terminated his employment after the victim reported the incident.

“This is a classic case of sexual harassment and retaliation,” attorney John Manly, who is representing the unidentified victim, said in a written statement. “Monsignor McGovern texted a graphic photograph of his naked genitalia to my client, then terminated his employment after my client reported the lewd photo to the police. This would be a clear violation of the law by any employer but it is even more disturbing when committed by a member of the clergy.”

The diocese, which oversees Catholic parishes in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, has not commented on the lawsuit. Sister Terry Davis, a spokeswoman for the diocese, said “we’re in the process of deciding what we’re going to do,” adding that she expected to issue a statement later this afternoon.

The lawsuit comes as another blow to the diocese, which filed for bankruptcy in January 2014 after paying millions of dollars to settle years of child sex abuse lawsuits. According to the Manly, Stewart and Finaldi law firm, the diocese spent $14 million in judgments, settlements and legal expenses in dozens of cases of clergy sexual abuse filed over a period of 20 years.