Diocese faces several new lawsuits

SCRANTON (PA)
The Citizens’ Voice

August 14, 2020

By Frank Wilkes Lesnefsky and Terrie Morgan-Besecker

Attorneys filed more than two dozen lawsuits against the Diocese of Scranton this week, just days before the second anniversary of the 2018 state grand jury report that revealed widespread sexual abuse and cover ups among Roman Catholic clergy.

Of the 30 lawsuits, nearly all of which were filed between Monday and Thursday, Times-Shamrock Newspapers confirmed at least 24 pertain to sexual abuse. Although the remaining six suits appear to relate to sexual abuse, attempts to reach the attorneys to confirm were unsuccessful.

Twenty-eight of the lawsuits were writs of summons that put defendants on notice they are being sued but do not contain information about the allegations, which will be filed later. Attorneys filed two full complaints naming alleged abusers and outlining allegations.

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