LANSING (MI)
WILX - NBC 10 [Lansing MI]
December 19, 2023
By WILX News 10 and Justin Kent
The Michigan Supreme Court is expected to hear an appeal in a sexual assault case involving the Catholic Diocese of Lansing.
Attorney Ven Johnson held a press conference Tuesday morning as he said the court’s decision will set a legal precedent as it will reinterpret Michigan’s statute of limitations for sexual assaults involving those who were minors at the time of the assault.
Johnson’s client, Brian McLain, claims he was sexually abused by a Roman Catholic priest in 1999 while he was a minor attending W.J. Maxey Boys Training School in Whitmore Lake. He is attempting to bring a lawsuit against the Diocese of Lansing, the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and Father Richard Lobert.
“Brian was working extensively with a therapist; that is when, if you will, the abuse and the causation, it is what the statute talks about,” said Johnson. “It is not just the assault, but it is the cause of his injuries. When that, for the first time in Brian’s life, was put all together.”
“I wanted to repent for it, and he ultimately used that against me and on numerous occasions used it against me to have me do things to him sexually,” said McLain.
The Diocese of Lansing released the following statement regarding the case:
“Because the ruling of Michigan’s court of appeals correctly applied Michigan law, we are asking the Michigan supreme court to uphold that ruling. As the matter is in litigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
The Michigan Supreme Court will hear an appeal in McLain’s case for why the statute of limitations should allow McLain to bring forward a lawsuit against the Diocese of Lansing. There is no set date for when the court will hear the case.
To report Catholic Church clergy abuse, submit information to the Michigan Department of Attorney General online, call the investigation hotline at (844) 324-3374 or email aginvestigations@michigan.gov.