GUAM
Kuam News
November 15, 2017
By Krystal Paco
Is it too little too late? Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood will have to decide if a 2016 law that lifted the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases covers all expired claims. The issue comes as defense for Archbishop Anthony Apuron motions for dismissal. At stake: the nearly 150 clergy sexual abuse lawsuits filed to date, both in the local and federal courts.
If the legislature intended to lift the civil statute of limitations for all child sexual abuse cases, they didn’t do it right.
This according to Attorney Jacque Terlaje’s reading of Public Law 33-187, the legislation that enabled the close to 150 clergy sexual abuse lawsuits filed in both the local and federal courts to date.
Terlaje represents Archbishop Anthony Apuron.
Though only four of the lawsuits name Apuron as an abuser, how Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood rules in these cases impacts all the others.
Wednesday’s hearing addressed defense’s objection to Magistrate Judge Joaquin Manibusan’s report and recommendation to deny defense’s motion to dismiss.
Terlaje urged the Chief Judge to look at the law’s language noting the legislature should’ve been more specific in their 2016 law if their intent was a 100-percent lift of the statute of limitations.
Terlaje stated “the law in front of the court only corrected the 2011 law.”
That law, if you recall, opened a window for victims to file their claims, but provisions in that law kept anyone from filing.
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