LAFAYETTE (LA)
KADN - Fox 15 [Lafayette LA]
December 7, 2023
Two lawsuits from Acadiana will affect the outcomes of other clergy sex abuse cases in Louisiana.
This week, the Louisiana Supreme Court announced it will hear arguments in a civil case against the Diocese of Lafayette and St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville. In the lawsuit, six plaintiffs allege they were molested by Father Kenneth Morvant decades ago when they were between the ages of 8 and 14.
The issue going before the Supreme Court is a 2021 law that created a three-year ‘lookback’ window. The law gives survivors of sexual abuse up until June 14, 2024 to file civil lawsuits, regardless of when the alleged abuse occurred. Previously, survivors had until they turned 28 years old to file such claims.
“The issue before the Louisiana Supreme Court is whether the newly-enacted legislation applies to the cases, and whether it’s constitutional,” said attorney Cle’ Simon, who represents the plaintiffs. “The church has taken the position, at least in litigation, that the claims of sexual abuse at the hands of various priests involved have prescribed, or that too much time has gone by, and therefore the suits aren’t timely.”
Simon said the “lookback” law has been challenged by the church, but upheld in district and appellate courts.
“The Supreme Court is the ultimate decider of the law in Louisiana. If they [are] consistent with the Court of Appeal, then all of these victims that exist will have their day in court. If the Supreme Court somehow finds a way to reverse what the Court of Appeal has ruled, then every one of these cases will be dismissed,” added Simon.
Simon also said his case will be tried at the Louisiana Supreme Court with another Acadiana case, in which Sam Doe alleges he was abused as a teenager by Father Stanley Begnaud.
In 2019, Fr. Begnaud was named by the Diocese of Lafayette as a priest who faced credible accusations of abuse; Fr. Morvant was not listed.
It’s unclear when the Louisiana Supreme Court will hear arguments in the cases, though Simon suspects it will be early in the year since the ‘lookback’ window expires in June.