Church Seeking Legal Costs From Alleged Victim
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Victims of clergy sex abuse are protesting efforts by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to recover legal costs from a man who unsuccessfully sued the church.
The plaintiff, listed in court papers only as John Doe 76C, sued in 2006 alleging he was abused by a priest in the early 1980s. He won his case, then lost on appeal because the statute of limitations had expired.
David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, calls the church's effort to recoup nearly $64,000 in legal costs "callous." He says it's a mean-spirited effort meant to intimidate this particular victim and other victims into staying silent.
The archdiocese issued a statement Wednesday calling its effort to recover legal costs routine.
But the Star Tribune reports it's the largest amount sought by the archdiocese to date.
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