Current:Home > ContactLouisiana court may reopen window for lawsuits by adult victims of childhood sex abuse -Mastery Money Tools
Louisiana court may reopen window for lawsuits by adult victims of childhood sex abuse
View
Date:2025-04-18 03:40:28
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana’s Supreme Court agreed Friday to reconsider its recent ruling that wiped out a state law giving adult victims of childhood sexual abuse a renewed opportunity to file damage lawsuits.
The law was passed by the Louisiana Legislature in 2021 and amended in 2022. Sometimes called a “look back” law, it gave victims of past abuse, whose deadlines for filing civil lawsuits had expired, until June 14 of this year to file — a deadline that could be extended until June of 2027 under pending legislation. At the time, its chief sponsor, Rep. Jason Hughes, a New Orleans Democrat, cited research that showed the average age for child sex abuse victims to report the crimes is 52.
In a 4-3 ruling in March, the state’s highest court had said the law conflicted with due process rights in the state constitution. Justices James Genovese, Scott Crichton, Jefferson Hughes and Piper Griffin had been in the majority in March. But in Friday’s order, Crichton and Griffin joined Chief Justice John Weimer and justices Jay McCallum and William Crain in granting a rehearing.
“This was the right decision — as the bill passed unanimously through the State Legislature and should be the law here in Louisiana,” Louisiana Attorney Gen. Liz Murrill said in a news release.
Friday’s decision comes as the Catholic Church continues to deal with the ramifications of a decades-old sex scandal. The ruling that is getting a second look arose from a case filed against the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette by plaintiffs who said they were molested by a priest in the 1970s while they ranged in age from 8 to 14, according to the Supreme Court record.
The rehearing decision follows last week’s revelation that Louisiana State Police carried out a sweeping search warrant in April at the Archdiocese of New Orleans, seeking records and communications between local church leaders and the Vatican about the church’s handling of clergy sexual abuse.
Friday’s order did not set a new court date for arguments on the look back law, but it gave parties until May 20 to file briefs. The new majority didn’t assign reasons for granting a rehearing, although Weimer said the court should have set a hearing for this month.
Hughes criticized the decision in a brief dissent saying civilizations have provided time limits on legal claims for centuries.
“Special interest exceptions are anathema to the broader and more important concept of Justice,” he wrote. “Equal protection means equal.”
veryGood! (9)
Related
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- Video shows California cop walking into a 7-Eleven robbery before making arrest
- Judge green-lights narrowing of main road through Atlantic City despite opposition from casinos
- Here’s a look at the 6 things the UN is ordering Israel to do about its operation in Gaza
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- Stock market today: Wall Street inches modestly lower ahead of more earnings, inflation data
- Evacuations underway in northeast Illinois after ice jam break on river causes significant flooding
- Czech lower house approves tougher gun law after nation’s worst mass shooting. Next stop Senate
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Gov. Evers appoints longtime state Sen. Lena Taylor to be Milwaukee judge
Ranking
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Dope ropes, THC Doritos reflect our patchwork pot laws and kids can pay the price, experts say
- Bill decriminalizing drug test strips in opioid-devastated West Virginia heads to governor
- Herbert Coward, who played Toothless Man in 'Deliverance,' killed in North Carolina crash
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Owner’s Withdrawal From Offshore Wind Project Hobbles Maryland’s Clean Energy Plans
- DJ Rick Buchanan Found Decapitated in Memphis Home
- NASA retires Ingenuity, the little helicopter that made history on Mars
Recommendation
Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
Nursing home employee accused of attempting to rape 87-year-old woman with dementia
DJ Rick Buchanan Found Decapitated in Memphis Home
Herbert Coward, who played Toothless Man in 'Deliverance,' killed in North Carolina crash
What to watch: O Jolie night
Former Los Angeles council member sentenced to 13 years in prison for pay-to-play corruption scandal
NASA retires Ingenuity, the little helicopter that made history on Mars
Morgan Wallen's version: Country artist hits back against rumored release of 2014 album