VENICE (FL)
ABC 7 [Sarasota, FL]
March 26, 2026
By Davis Suppes
Judge urges discovery to finish as case moves forward after Fr. Leo Riley’s death
A motion hearing in Sarasota on Thursday focused on the next steps in a civil lawsuit against the Diocese of Venice and representatives of the Rev. Leo Riley, a Roman Catholic priest accused of inappropriate contact with multiple children.
Attorneys argued over the production of documents and how the case will proceed after Riley died in December 2025.
Riley, who served in parishes in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Naples, was originally scheduled to go on trial this month in a civil suit filed in 2020 by a plaintiff identified as John Doe.
The lawsuit alleges Riley assaulted the plaintiff when he was a young boy in the church.
In court Thursday, the plaintiff’s attorney, Damian Mallard, asked the judge to compel what he described as a complete production of records.
“What I’m asking for, Your Honor, is an order that compels these documents as soon as the Court would allow,” Mallard said.
Attorneys for both sides appearing at the hearing via zoom on Thursday morning. Mallard claiming that he has received a large amount of the records, but not the complete records needed from both the Diocese of Venice and the Diocese of Dubuque where Riley faced another lawsuit filed in 2024.
Attorneys for the Diocese of Venice told the court they have already turned over their records.
“We have previously given him Father Riley’s entire file,” the diocese’s attorney said, adding that the Diocese of Venice and the Diocese of Dubuque are “two separate” entities and that any additional documents may be held elsewhere, out of the control of the Diocese of Venice.
The judge pressed both sides on what documents are still needed ahead of a deposition scheduled for Monday.
“I’m most interested right now in whatever it is you think they have that you need for Monday’s deposition,” the judge said.
The judge also emphasized the case will be pushed forward quickly.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Sarasota judge cancels civil trial involving Diocese of Venice
“Everybody needs to understand we need to expedite the discovery. It needs to happen as soon as possible because we’re getting this case to trial,” the judge said.
The original trial date was canceled one day after Riley’s death in December last year.
After the case was approved to move forward, the Diocese of Venice released a statement saying it would continue to contest the allegations and reiterated its policy stance.
“The Diocese of Venice remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse of a minor or a vulnerable adult,” Karen Schwarz, the diocese’s director of communications, said. “The Diocese of Venice will have no further comment on this matter while the litigation is pending.”
Mallard said Riley’s death will not stop the case from moving forward. Saying that Riley’s testimony has been video recorded and can proceed with that portion of the suit as planned.
The next scheduled steps in the case include the deposition on Monday and a technical response due next week.
Riley began serving in the Diocese of Venice in September 2002. He served as parochial vicar at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Port Charlotte, Sacred Heart Parish in Punta Gorda and St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Naples. Riley also served as pastor of San Antonio Parish in Port Charlotte from January 2019 to May 2023.