BEFORE THE COURT are three motions to dismiss the Complaint: (1) Defendant, Jon Caridad’s, Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint (Dkt. 5); (2) Defendant, Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, Inc.’s, Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint (Dkt. 8); and (3) Defendants St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School, Inc.’s and St. John’s Church’s Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 6). Plaintiff has responded to [2] each in opposition (Dkts. 7, 11, 15). Upon consideration, the Motions (Dkts. 5, 6, 8) are GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
I. Introduction
Plaintiff alleges that he was sexually and physically abused by Defendants Jon Caridad and James Biggers at various times between 1971 and 1975 (Dkt. 1 at ¶¶ 25, 30). During that time, Caridad was a priest at St. John’s Church (the “Church”) and a teacher at St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School (the “School”), which was operated by the Church (id. at ¶ 3).1 Biggers was also employed by the Church and the School, serving as Choir Master at the Church and a teacher at the School (id at ¶ 6). Both the Church and the School were allegedly organizations of Defendant Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, Inc. (the “Diocese”), a religious entity, which allegedly maintained operational authority and control over its churches, congregations, and schools (id. at ¶¶ 10-12).2 The abuse is alleged to have occurred while Plaintiff was a congregant of the Church and a student at the School (id. at ¶¶ 19, 20). Plaintiff also alleges that his memory of the abusewas “extinguished because of the trauma and the resulting traumatic amnesia or repressed memory [3] syndrome,” and Plaintiff therefore had no memory of the abuse until it resurfaced in 2011 (id. at ¶ 38).
Counts I and II of the Complaint assert claims of battery, abuse, and sexual battery against Caridad and Biggers. Counts III through VI are claims for vicarious liability under a theory of respondeat superior (Count III), negligent supervision and retention (Count IV), negligence (Count V), and breach of fiduciary duty (Count VI) brought against the Church, the School, and the Diocese.
Caridad, the Church, the School, and the Diocese move to dismiss the Complaint pursuant toFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted. All four argue that the claims are barred by the statute of limitations. Plaintiff contends that based on the delayed discovery doctrine, the cause of action did not accrue for statutes of limitations [4] purposes until Plaintiff recalled the alleged abuse. In addition, the Church, the School, and the Diocese argue that the Complaint suffers from other deficiencies warranting dismissal for failure to state a claim. Caridad argues that the claims are barred by the First Amendment and that Plaintiff may not bring this lawsuit anonymously.
II. Standard
A complaint should contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). This Rule does not require detailed factual allegations, but it demands more than an unadorned, conclusory accusation of harm. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 173 L. Ed. 2d 868 (2009). The complaint must “plead all facts establishing an entitlement to relief with more than ‘labels and conclusions’ or a ‘formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action.'” Resnick v. AvMed, Inc., 693 F.3d 1317, 1324 (11th Cir. 2012) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 167 L. Ed. 2d 929 (2007)). “The complaint must contain enough facts to make a claim for relief plausible on its face.” Resnick, 693 F.3d at 1324-25. “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the [5] reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). This plausibility standard “asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556).
Although it is axiomatic that the Court must accept as true all of the allegations contained in the complaint, this tenet is “inapplicable to legal conclusions.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. “While legal conclusions can provide the framework of a complaint, they must be supported by factual allegations.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679. All reasonable inferences must be drawn in the plaintiffs favor. St. George v. Pinellas Cnty., 285 F.3d 1334, 1337 (11th Cir. 2002).
Dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) “on statute of limitations grounds is appropriate only if it is apparent from the face of the complaint that the claim is time-barred.”Tello v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 410 F.3d 1275, 1288 (11th Cir. 2005) (quoting La Grasta v. First Union Sec., Inc., 358 F.3d 840, 845 (11th Cir. 2004)).
III. Discussion
1. Statute of Limitations
Plaintiff filed this action on September 24, 2013 alleging [6] that he was sexually abused by Defendants Caridad and Biggers while they were employed by the School and/or the Church and while Plaintiff was a student, congregant, and altar boy, but that he “had no memory of any act of abuse he suffered until 2011.” (Dkt. 1 at ¶¶ 9-39). According to the allegations in the Complaint, “[t]he events giving rise to this complaint occurred between 1971-75,” nearly four decades ago. (Id at ¶ 9). As such, Defendants contend that the statute of limitations applicable to the claims against the Church, School, and Diocese have long expired.3 Plaintiff asserts that the delayed discovery doctrine, as adopted by the Florida Supreme Court in Hearndon v. Graham, 767 So. 2d 1179 (Fla. 2000), operates to save his claims.
Defendants recognize that the delayed discovery doctrine saves Plaintiffs intentional tort claims (battery, abuse, and sexual abuse) against Caridad and Biggers. However, they contend that the Florida Supreme Court limited its holding in Hearndon to intentional tort claims against the perpetrator of the [7] abuse and therefore, the doctrine is not applicable to Plaintiff’s non-intentional tort claims against the Church Defendants (Counts III-VI).4 This proposition is supported by the Third District Court of Appeal’s decision in Cisko v. Diocese of Steubenville, 123 So. 3d 83 (Fla. 3d DCA 2013). Plaintiff asserts that the Third District wrongly decided the issue and this Court is not obligated to follow it. Plaintiff also argues that his claim for Vicarious Liability/Respondeat Superior (Count III) is a claim based on the intentional torts of Caridad and Biggers and thus, the delayed discovery doctrine applies to its accrual.
a. Hearndon v. Graham
“The ‘delayed discovery’ doctrine generally provides that a cause of action does not accrue until the plaintiff either knows or reasonably should know of the tortious act giving rise to the cause of action.” Hearndon v. Graham, 767 So. 2d at 1184. In Hearndon, the plaintiff sued her stepfather for injuries allegedly caused by the sexual abuse committed [8] by her stepfather beginning in 1968 and continuing until 1975. Id. at 1181. The complaint was not filed until 1991 because she allegedly suffered from “traumatic amnesia” or a related syndrome until 1988. Id.The trial court dismissed the complaint as barred by the four-year statute of limitations applicable to civil actions for injury or damages caused by an intentional tort. Id. The First District Court of Appeal held that the statute of limitations was not tolled based on the delayed discovery doctrine, but certified the question in the case to the Florida Supreme Court. Id. at 1181-82.
The Supreme Court determined the delayed discovery doctrine operates to delay the accrual of a cause of action, as opposed to tolling the statute of limitations, and held that the delayed discovery doctrine applies to childhood sexual abuse cases accompanied by traumatic amnesia.Id. at 1181-82, 1186. The court reasoned that such an application is fair, given the nature of the alleged tortious conduct, its effect on victims, and the general application of the doctrine to tort cases. Id. The court did rely on Florida Statute section 95.11 (7), since the plaintiff s action was based on abuse that occurred [9] from 1968 to 1975, preceding the effective date of that statute.5 Id. at 1186.
b. Cisko v. Diocese of Steubenville
In Cisko, the Third District Court of Appeal concluded that the delayed discovery doctrine as applied in Hearndon is a narrow exception and limited to intentional torts. 123 So. 3d at 84. The plaintiffs in Cisko sued the Diocese of Steubenville for negligence related to physical and sexualabuse allegedly suffered between 1966 and 1967, but not recalled until 2005 because of traumatic amnesia. Id. The trial court found that the plaintiffs’ negligence claim was barred by the four-year statute of limitations after concluding that the delayed discovery [10] doctrine, as applied in Hearndon, did not apply to the negligence action. Id. The Third District agreed, reasoning that the court in Hearndon limited its holding “to the specific cause of action: a suit for intentional tort against the perpetrator.” Id. The court found support in a plain reading ofHearndon, as well as the Supreme Court’s discussion in Davis v. Monahan, 832 So. 2d 708 (Fla. 2002),6 and the absence of any statutory endorsement to extend the statute of limitation in sexual abuse cases to causes of actions other than intentional torts. Id. at 84-85.
c. Application of Hearndon and Cisko
As this is a diversity case, in the absence of a controlling decision from the Florida Supreme Court, this Court must follow decisions from the Florida intermediate appellate [11] courts unless there is some persuasive indication that the Supreme Court would decide the case differently.Raie v. Cheminova, Inc., 336 F.3d 1278, 1280 (11th Cir. 2003); United Techs. Corp. v. Mazer, 556 F.3d 1260, 1274 (11th Cir. 2009) (citations and quotation omitted) (“Absent some indication that the Florida Supreme Court would hold otherwise, federal courts are bound to adhere to the decisions of Florida’s intermediate courts.”). Indeed, the Florida Supreme Court has held that “[t]he decisions of the district courts of appeal represent the law of Florida unless and until they are overruled by [the Florida Supreme Court].” Pardo v. State, 596 So. 2d 665, 666 (Fla. 1992)(quoting Stanfill v. State, 384 So. 2d 141, 143 (Fla. 1980)); see also McMahan v. Toto, 311 F.3d 1077, 1080 (11th Cir. 2002). If there are no state decisions on point, this Court “may make an educated guess as to what the Florida courts would decide if this case were presented to them.”Smigiel v. Aetna Cas. and Sur. Co., 785 F.2d 922, 925 (11th Cir.1986) (citation omitted).
The Florida Supreme Court has not spoken on the precise issue of whether the delayed discovery doctrine applies to non-intentional tort claims [12] for childhood sexual abuse brought against non-perpetrator tortfeasors. It has, however, expressly stated that “Hearndon is limited to the specific facts in that case.” Davis, 832 So. 2d at 712. The Supreme Court also explained that “in the narrow circumstance of lack of memory in childhood sexual abuse cases, the doctrine was appropriate because the lack of memory was caused by the abuser-a situation similar to the statutory circumstances to which the doctrine applies.” Id. at 710. The Third District Court of Appeal has held that the doctrine does not apply to non-intentional tort claims. Cisko, 123 So. 3d at 84.
Plaintiff brings claims against the Church, the School, and the Diocese for respondeat superior, negligent supervision and retention, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty. Absent some persuasive indication that the Florida Supreme Court would decide the case differently, the holding in Cisko likewise precludes Plaintiffs negligent supervision and retention, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty claims.7
Moreover, the Eleventh Circuit has also recognized that “Hearndon’s expansion [13] of the statutory delayed discovery doctrine is as narrow as can be.” Raie, 336 F.3d at 1281-82(concluding that Hearndon was an exceedingly narrow decision that does not justify similar extensions of the delayed discovery rule to instances beyond those for which the Florida Legislature provided by statute.”).
Accordingly, Cisko will be followed as Florida substantive law and Plaintiffs negligent supervision and retention, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty claims are barred by the statute of limitations as a matter of law.
Plaintiff seeks to hold all of the Church Defendants vicariously liable for the acts of Caridad and Biggers under the doctrine of respondeat superior. Defendants first contend that this claim is likewise barred by the statute of limitations, as discussed, and summarily classify the claim as one grounded in negligence. Second, they assert that as a matter of law, the acts of Caridad and Biggers fall outside the course and scope of their employment and did not further the purpose or interest of the Church Defendants. Plaintiff responds that the claim is based on the intentional torts of Caridad and Biggers, and [14] therefore not time-barred by operation of the delayed discovery doctrine, regardless of whether this Court follows Cisko. Second, he argues that whether Caridad’s and Bigger’s conduct falls outside the course and scope of their employment and was in furtherance of the interests of the Church Defendants are questions of fact not yet ripe for review.
Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer can be vicariously liable for the acts of its employees performed within the course of their agency or employment. Dieas v. Assoc. Loan Co., 99 So. 2d 279, 281 (Fla. 1957). Unlike a cause of action for negligent hiring or retention which is grounded on the negligence of the employer, the negligence of the employer is irrelevant to a cause of action based on respondeat superior. See Island City Flying Serv. v. Gen. Elec. Credit Corp., 585 So. 2d 274, 278 (Fla. 1991) (citing Mallory v. O’Neil, 69 So. 2d 313, 315 (Fla. 1954)).Under the theory of respondeat superior, the employer is not liable if the employee is not liable.Mallory, 69 So. 2d at 315; Bankers Multiple Line Ins. Co. v. Farish, 464 So. 2d 530, 532 (Fla. 1985) (“when a principal’s liability rests solely on the doctrine of respondeat [15] superior, a principal cannot be held liable if the agent is exonerated.”). It follows that Plaintiffs claim against the Church Defendants alleging that they are vicariously liable for the acts of Caridad and Biggers is based on the intentional torts, allegedly committed by them, not on the negligence of the Church Defendants. Accordingly, this claim is grounded in intentional tort to which the delayed discovery doctrine applies under Hearndon and Cisko, and is not time-barred.
Admittedly, the application of the delayed discovery doctrine to this claim is distinguishable fromHearndon and Cisko in that it is not a claim directly against the perpetrator. However, because the liability of the Church Defendants would be vicarious and based solely on the alleged acts of the abusers/perpetrators, it necessarily falls within the narrow application of the delayed discovery doctrine of Hearndon. See Arthur v. Unicare Health Facilities, Inc., 602 So. 2d 596 (Fla. 2d DCA 1992) (medical malpractice statute of limitations applies to causes of action against an employer for vicarious liability “if [16] liability is predicated solely upon the acts of a professional employee who has the benefit of the statute.”) (citing Sheils v. Jack Eckerd Corp., 560 So. 2d 361 (Fla. 2d DCA1990) (statute of limitations for actions for professional malpractice was applicable to claims against employer predicated solely on the negligence of the employee)).Moreover, it is persuasive that section 95.11 (7), on which both Hearndon and Cisko partly rely, contains no limitation that the claim be one against the perpetrator in order for it to apply.
The next question is whether the acts of Caridad and Biggers, as alleged in the Complaint, plausibly fall within the course and scope of their employment and were to further the purpose or interest of the Church Defendants. “Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer cannot be held liable for the tortious or criminal acts of an employee, unless the acts were committed during the course of the employment and to further a purpose or interest, however excessive or misguided, of the employer.” Iglesia Cristiana La Casa Del Senor, Inc. v. L.M., 783 So. 2d 353, 356 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001) (citing Nazareth v. Herndon Ambulance Serv., Inc., 467 So. 2d 1076, 1078 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985)); [17] Perez v. Zazo, 498 So.2d 463, 465 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986)(“It is entirely clear that responsibility for the intentional wrongful acts of a servant-employee may be visited upon his master-employer under the doctrine of respondeat superior only when that conduct in some way furthers the interests of the master or is at least motivated by a purpose to serve those interests, rather than the employee’s own.”)(footnote omitted). “Under Florida law, an employee’s conduct is within the scope of his employment where: 1) the conduct is of the kind he was employed to perform; 2) the conduct occurs substantially within the time and space limits authorized or required by the work to be performed, and 3) the conduct is activated at least in part by a purpose to serve the master.” Iglesia Cristiana La Casa Del Senor, Inc., 783 So. 2d at 357 (citing Sussman v. Florida E. Coast Props., Inc., 557 So. 2d 74, 75-76 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990));Gowan v. Bay Cnty., 744 So. 2d 1136,1138 (Fla. lst DCA1999).
‘”Generally, sexual assaults and batteries by employees are held to be outside the scope of an employee’s employment and, therefore, insufficient to impose vicarious liability on the employer.'”Special Olympics Florida, Inc. v. Showalter, 6 So. 3d 662, 665 (Fla. 5th DCA 2009) [18] (quotingNazareth, 467 So. 2d at 1078). However, courts have recognized an exception where the employee/tortfeasor was assisted in accomplishing the tort by the existence of the employee/employer relationship. Iglesia Cristiana La Casa Del Senor, Inc., 783 So. 2d at 357(citing Nazareth, 467 So. 2d at 1078); Grice v. Air Products and Chem., Inc., No. 3:98-cv-205/RV, 22000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5621, 000 WL 353010, *13 (N.D. Fla. Feb. 7, 2000) (citing Hennagan v. Dep’t of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 467 So. 2d 748 (Fla. 1st DCA 1965)).
A number of courts have concluded that sexual abuse by members of the clergy does not fall within the course or scope of employment as a matter of law, even at the motion to dismiss stage. See, e.g., Elders v. United Methodist Church, 793 So. 2d 1038, 1039 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001)(affirming dismissal of respondeat superior claims); Tell v. Roman Catholic Bishops of Diocese of Allentown, CIVA09C05171 JAP, 2010 Del. Super. LEXIS 162, 2010 WL 1691199, *11 & n.61 (Del. Super. Apr. 26, 2010) (“The courts which have considered the issue have overwhelmingly, if not uniformly, have held that a priest who sexually abuses another is not acting within the scope of his employment.”) (collecting cases); Doe v. Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corp., 268 F. Supp.2d 139, 142 (D. Conn. 2003) [19] (“Usually, it is a question of fact as to whether a wilful tort of the servant has occurred within the scope of the servant’s employment and was done to further his master’s business….But there are occasional cases where a servant’s digression from duty is so clear-cut that the disposition of the case becomes a matter of law…. Cases of sexualabuse often represent such a strong deviation from furthering an employer’s business.”) (citations and quotation omitted).
Notwithstanding the rationale of these cases, an exception to the general rule is recognized in Florida, where “the tortfeasor was assisted in accomplishing the tort by virtue of the employer/employee relationship.” Iglesia Cristiana La Casa Del Senor, Inc., 783 So. 2d at 357. Based on the allegations in the Complaint, and because it is a fact intensive inquiry, this issue is more appropriately addressed at the summary judgment stage. See, e.g., id at 353 (case proceeded to jury trial on the issue); United Technologies Corp. v. Mazer, 556 F.3d 1260, 1273 (11th Cir. 2009). For example, the Complaint includes allegations that Caridad, a Priest and a teacher, and Biggers, a teacher and Choir Master, abused Plaintiff on Church [20] and School property, utilized their positions of authority to manipulate and intimidate Plaintiff, a minor at the time, had access to and the opportunity to abuse Plaintiff because of their official positions and duties, and that Biggers abused Plaintiff while giving him piano lessons as part of his education and while on Church choir trips. Therefore, this claim survives Defendants’ motions to dismiss.
3. The Corporate Existence of the Church and School
The Church also moves to dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint on the ground Plaintiff has failed to plead sufficient facts to establish the existence of either Defendant as a corporate entity at the time the alleged abuse occurred. For example, Plaintiff alleges that the School “was founded in 1951 but not incorporated until 2000” and merely that the Church “is a Florida non-profit religious institution.” (Dkt. 1 at ¶¶ 2, 3). However, Plaintiff also alleges that “[u]ntil 2000, Defendant Church and Defendant School were a single entity operating within the Diocese.” (Id. at ¶ 3). Plaintiff concedes that under Florida law, an unincorporated church does not have the capacity to be sued, but asserts that he is not required to prove the corporate [21] existence of the Defendants at this time. (Dkt. 11 at 18 n.8).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(a) states: “Except when required to show that the court has jurisdiction, a pleading need not allege: (A) a party’s capacity to sue or be sued.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(a)(1)(A). Plaintiffs allegations do not conclusively establish whether the Church or the School lack capacity to be sued. In addition, neither the Church nor the School have specifically denied that they lack the capacity to be sued. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(a)(2). The capacity of the Defendants to be sued is more appropriately addressed in a dispositive motion.
4. Defendant Caridad’s Motion to Dismiss
For the reasons discussed, Caridad’s Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 5) will be denied. In addition, as Plaintiffs claims against Caridad and Biggers are for battery, abuse, and sexual abuse, intentional tort claims, the delayed discovery doctrine as adopted in Hearndon applies to these claims, and they are not barred by the applicable statute of limitations.
Caridad also contends that the Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over Counts I-VI pursuant to the First Amendment. He argues that the negligent supervision and retention claim [22] against the Church Defendants is barred by the First Amendment. The Florida Supreme Court has held otherwise.8 Malicki v. Doe, 814 So. 2d 347, 365 (Fla. 2002) (the First Amendmentdoes not bar claims for negligent hiring and supervision); also Doe v. Evans, 814 So. 2d 370, 377 (Fla. 2002) (holding that the First Amendment does not bar consideration of negligent hiring and supervision and breach of fiduciary duty claims against a religious institution based on alleged sexual misconduct a member of its clergy with a parishioner). “[W]ith regard to a third party tort claim against a religious institution,… the First Amendment does not provide a shield behind which a church may avoid liability for harm arising from an alleged sexual assault and battery by one of its clergy members.” Malicki v. Doe, 814 So. 2d at 365.
Lastly, Caridad argues that Plaintiff may not proceed anonymously as “John Doe.” Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 10(a) requires that “every pleading” in federal [23] court “must name all the parties.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(a). However, “[a] party may proceed anonymously in a civil suit in federal court by showing that he ‘has a substantial privacy right which outweighs the customary and constitutionally-embedded presumption of openness in judicial proceedings.”‘ Plaintiff B v. Francis, 631 F.3d 1310, 1315-16 (11th Cir. 2011) (quoting Doe v. Frank, 951 F.2d 320, 323 (11th Cir.1992)). Francis considered whether “the issues involved are matters of a sensitive and highly personal nature” such that the “practice of disclosing the parties’ identities ‘yields to a policy of protecting privacy in a very private matter.'” Id. (quoting S. Methodist Univ. Ass’n of Women Law Students v. Wynne & Jaffe, 599 F.2d 707, 712-13 (5th Cir. 1979)).9 It is not enough to suggest that a party may “suffer some personal embarrassment.” Frank, 951 F.2d at 324. The court found that “[t]he issues involved in this case could not be of a more sensitive and highly personal nature—they involve descriptions of the Plaintiffs in various stages of nudity and engaged in explicit sexual conduct while they were minors who were coerced by the Defendants into those activities.” Id. at 1316-17.
Plaintiffs allegations of childhood sexual abuse by members of the clergy and employees of the Church, School, and/or Diocese while he was a minor are similarly of a sensitive and highly [25] personal nature. Moreover, at this time Plaintiff only seeks to remain anonymous in court filings. (Dkt. 7 at 4 n. 1). Caridad does not suggest he will suffer any prejudice, and therefore Plaintiff may proceed anonymously at this time. However, any request to proceed anonymously other than in court filings must be formally made and demonstrate a “substantial privacy right which outweighs the customary and constitutionally-embedded presumption of openness in judicial proceedings.” See Francis, 631 F.3d at 1315-16.
Accordingly,
1. Defendant, Jon Caridad’s, Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint (Dkt. 5) is GRANTED to the extent that Counts IV, V and VI are DISMISSED with prejudice and DENIED as to Counts I, II and III.
2. Defendant, Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, Inc.’s, Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint (Dkt. 8) is GRANTED to the extent that Counts IV, V and VI are DISMISSED with prejudice and DENIED as to Count III.
3. Defendants St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School, Inc.’s and St. John’s Church’s Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 6) is GRANTED to the extent that Counts IV, V and VI are DISMISSED with prejudice and DENIED as to Count III.
4. Defendants shall answer the Complaint within [26] fourteen (14) days of the date of this Order.
DONE AND ORDERED this 11th day of February, 2014.
/s/ James D. Whittemore
JAMES D. WHITTEMORE
United States District Judge
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PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s Senate Education Committee unanimously approved a bill Tuesday to establish a task force that would study the impact of child sexual abuse.
The group would be named Jolene’s Law Task Force after Jolene Loetscher of Sioux Falls, a victim of sexual abuse as a teenager who has spoken publicly about her story.
The task force would meet to study child sexual abuse in South Dakota and suggest ways the state could improve its policies for dealing with the problem.
“We owe it to everyone to give all of those children out there the right to become survivors,” Loetscher said, in support of the bill.
The Associated Press generally does not normally name the victims of sexual abuse but is naming Loetscher because she has come forward and spoken publicly.
The task force would include a victim, law enforcement, medical and mental health experts, child advocates and a tribal representative with experience on the issue. It includes a $21,000 allocation from the Legislative Research Council to fund meetings later this year.
The measure now goes to the full Senate.
The bill’s main sponsor, Sen. Deb. Soholt, R-Sioux Falls, said one in four girls and one in six boys are victims of sexual assault.
“This is an adult problem,” Soholt said.
Soholt initially thought she would propose a school mandate and take direct action addressing the issue. But after talking to educators, she determined more investigation needs to be done.
“What I came to understand is that we don’t know what to do,” Soholt said.
Hollie Strand, a forensic interviewer who talks to children in abuse cases, said she has noticed inconsistency in how organizations address this problem.
“Everybody has a different response to this. I don’t think we know as a state who’s getting it right and who’s getting it wrong,” Strand said.
Dr. Nancy Free, a pediatrician and expert in the evaluation and treatment of abused and neglected children, said child sexual abuse often goes unreported, causing later problems.
“It’s expensive to take care of adults who have been victimized and not helped,” Free said.
She said adults who suffered sexual abuse as children have high rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease and depression.
Other supporters of the bill included child advocacy organizations and the state Department of Social Services. No one spoke in opposition to the bill.
“These are the most vulnerable victims that there are,” said Dick Tieszen of the South Dakota Sheriffs’ Association. “The problem is here, next we need to understand it.”
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Old school ties may have put a Manhattan judge in a bind.
Lawyers for insurance companies locked in a legal battle with the tony private school Horace Mann over sex abuse claims want the judge hearing the case expelled because he’s an alum, according to court documents filed Monday.
Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Charles Ramos is a graduate of the ivy-covered Bronx institution and therefore not an impartial arbiter, the insurance lawyers argued in the court filing.
Ramos, a 30-year veteran of the courts, graduated from Horace Mann in 1958.
Lawyers for Horace Mann had no objection to one of their own handling the case, court papers showed.
Horace Mann filed a lawsuit against its three insurance companies — all subsidiaries of AIG — last August over $1 million in settlements with two students who claimed they were abused while attending the school in the 1990s.
“An appearance of impropriety exists based on Your Honor’s status as an alumnus of Horace Mann,” Errico said in the Feb. 7 filing.
“Although this connection alone is insufficient to warrant mandatory recusal, Your Honor’s affiliation with the school may cast doubt on your impartiality and could call into question the propriety of this court’s future rulings in this matter,” he noted.
Errico cited the intense media interest generated by the Horace Mann sex scandal, which gained national attention in the summer of 2012 with a bombshell report in the New York Times.
Approximately 32 students have said they were abused over decades at the once-revered school. Almost all of them have received settlements from Horace Mann.
Another student, known as John Doe, has filed a suit in New Jersey, where the statute of limitations on sex abuse cases is more lenient than in New York.
John Doe has alleged he was sexually abused for years by Horace Mann’s legendary music teacher Johannes Somary.
Somary has been named as a serial abuser by several other Horace Mann victims, who also claim school officials colluded over decades to cover up his crimes and similar sexual abuse from other teachers.
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Doe v. St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day Sch., 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17982
/in Cases (Florida) /by SOL ReformORDER
BEFORE THE COURT are three motions to dismiss the Complaint: (1) Defendant, Jon Caridad’s, Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint (Dkt. 5); (2) Defendant, Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, Inc.’s, Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint (Dkt. 8); and (3) Defendants St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School, Inc.’s and St. John’s Church’s Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 6). Plaintiff has responded to [2] each in opposition (Dkts. 7, 11, 15). Upon consideration, the Motions (Dkts. 5, 6, 8) are GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
I. Introduction
Plaintiff alleges that he was sexually and physically abused by Defendants Jon Caridad and James Biggers at various times between 1971 and 1975 (Dkt. 1 at ¶¶ 25, 30). During that time, Caridad was a priest at St. John’s Church (the “Church”) and a teacher at St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School (the “School”), which was operated by the Church (id. at ¶ 3).1 Biggers was also employed by the Church and the School, serving as Choir Master at the Church and a teacher at the School (id at ¶ 6). Both the Church and the School were allegedly organizations of Defendant Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, Inc. (the “Diocese”), a religious entity, which allegedly maintained operational authority and control over its churches, congregations, and schools (id. at ¶¶ 10-12).2 The abuse is alleged to have occurred while Plaintiff was a congregant of the Church and a student at the School (id. at ¶¶ 19, 20). Plaintiff also alleges that his memory of the abusewas “extinguished because of the trauma and the resulting traumatic amnesia or repressed memory [3] syndrome,” and Plaintiff therefore had no memory of the abuse until it resurfaced in 2011 (id. at ¶ 38).
Counts I and II of the Complaint assert claims of battery, abuse, and sexual battery against Caridad and Biggers. Counts III through VI are claims for vicarious liability under a theory of respondeat superior (Count III), negligent supervision and retention (Count IV), negligence (Count V), and breach of fiduciary duty (Count VI) brought against the Church, the School, and the Diocese.
Caridad, the Church, the School, and the Diocese move to dismiss the Complaint pursuant toFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted. All four argue that the claims are barred by the statute of limitations. Plaintiff contends that based on the delayed discovery doctrine, the cause of action did not accrue for statutes of limitations [4] purposes until Plaintiff recalled the alleged abuse. In addition, the Church, the School, and the Diocese argue that the Complaint suffers from other deficiencies warranting dismissal for failure to state a claim. Caridad argues that the claims are barred by the First Amendment and that Plaintiff may not bring this lawsuit anonymously.
II. Standard
A complaint should contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). This Rule does not require detailed factual allegations, but it demands more than an unadorned, conclusory accusation of harm. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 173 L. Ed. 2d 868 (2009). The complaint must “plead all facts establishing an entitlement to relief with more than ‘labels and conclusions’ or a ‘formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action.'” Resnick v. AvMed, Inc., 693 F.3d 1317, 1324 (11th Cir. 2012) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 167 L. Ed. 2d 929 (2007)). “The complaint must contain enough facts to make a claim for relief plausible on its face.” Resnick, 693 F.3d at 1324-25. “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the [5] reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). This plausibility standard “asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556).
Although it is axiomatic that the Court must accept as true all of the allegations contained in the complaint, this tenet is “inapplicable to legal conclusions.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. “While legal conclusions can provide the framework of a complaint, they must be supported by factual allegations.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679. All reasonable inferences must be drawn in the plaintiffs favor. St. George v. Pinellas Cnty., 285 F.3d 1334, 1337 (11th Cir. 2002).
Dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) “on statute of limitations grounds is appropriate only if it is apparent from the face of the complaint that the claim is time-barred.”Tello v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 410 F.3d 1275, 1288 (11th Cir. 2005) (quoting La Grasta v. First Union Sec., Inc., 358 F.3d 840, 845 (11th Cir. 2004)).
III. Discussion
1. Statute of Limitations
Plaintiff filed this action on September 24, 2013 alleging [6] that he was sexually abused by Defendants Caridad and Biggers while they were employed by the School and/or the Church and while Plaintiff was a student, congregant, and altar boy, but that he “had no memory of any act of abuse he suffered until 2011.” (Dkt. 1 at ¶¶ 9-39). According to the allegations in the Complaint, “[t]he events giving rise to this complaint occurred between 1971-75,” nearly four decades ago. (Id at ¶ 9). As such, Defendants contend that the statute of limitations applicable to the claims against the Church, School, and Diocese have long expired.3 Plaintiff asserts that the delayed discovery doctrine, as adopted by the Florida Supreme Court in Hearndon v. Graham, 767 So. 2d 1179 (Fla. 2000), operates to save his claims.
Defendants recognize that the delayed discovery doctrine saves Plaintiffs intentional tort claims (battery, abuse, and sexual abuse) against Caridad and Biggers. However, they contend that the Florida Supreme Court limited its holding in Hearndon to intentional tort claims against the perpetrator of the [7] abuse and therefore, the doctrine is not applicable to Plaintiff’s non-intentional tort claims against the Church Defendants (Counts III-VI).4 This proposition is supported by the Third District Court of Appeal’s decision in Cisko v. Diocese of Steubenville, 123 So. 3d 83 (Fla. 3d DCA 2013). Plaintiff asserts that the Third District wrongly decided the issue and this Court is not obligated to follow it. Plaintiff also argues that his claim for Vicarious Liability/Respondeat Superior (Count III) is a claim based on the intentional torts of Caridad and Biggers and thus, the delayed discovery doctrine applies to its accrual.
a. Hearndon v. Graham
“The ‘delayed discovery’ doctrine generally provides that a cause of action does not accrue until the plaintiff either knows or reasonably should know of the tortious act giving rise to the cause of action.” Hearndon v. Graham, 767 So. 2d at 1184. In Hearndon, the plaintiff sued her stepfather for injuries allegedly caused by the sexual abuse committed [8] by her stepfather beginning in 1968 and continuing until 1975. Id. at 1181. The complaint was not filed until 1991 because she allegedly suffered from “traumatic amnesia” or a related syndrome until 1988. Id.The trial court dismissed the complaint as barred by the four-year statute of limitations applicable to civil actions for injury or damages caused by an intentional tort. Id. The First District Court of Appeal held that the statute of limitations was not tolled based on the delayed discovery doctrine, but certified the question in the case to the Florida Supreme Court. Id. at 1181-82.
The Supreme Court determined the delayed discovery doctrine operates to delay the accrual of a cause of action, as opposed to tolling the statute of limitations, and held that the delayed discovery doctrine applies to childhood sexual abuse cases accompanied by traumatic amnesia.Id. at 1181-82, 1186. The court reasoned that such an application is fair, given the nature of the alleged tortious conduct, its effect on victims, and the general application of the doctrine to tort cases. Id. The court did rely on Florida Statute section 95.11 (7), since the plaintiff s action was based on abuse that occurred [9] from 1968 to 1975, preceding the effective date of that statute.5 Id. at 1186.
b. Cisko v. Diocese of Steubenville
In Cisko, the Third District Court of Appeal concluded that the delayed discovery doctrine as applied in Hearndon is a narrow exception and limited to intentional torts. 123 So. 3d at 84. The plaintiffs in Cisko sued the Diocese of Steubenville for negligence related to physical and sexualabuse allegedly suffered between 1966 and 1967, but not recalled until 2005 because of traumatic amnesia. Id. The trial court found that the plaintiffs’ negligence claim was barred by the four-year statute of limitations after concluding that the delayed discovery [10] doctrine, as applied in Hearndon, did not apply to the negligence action. Id. The Third District agreed, reasoning that the court in Hearndon limited its holding “to the specific cause of action: a suit for intentional tort against the perpetrator.” Id. The court found support in a plain reading ofHearndon, as well as the Supreme Court’s discussion in Davis v. Monahan, 832 So. 2d 708 (Fla. 2002),6 and the absence of any statutory endorsement to extend the statute of limitation in sexual abuse cases to causes of actions other than intentional torts. Id. at 84-85.
c. Application of Hearndon and Cisko
As this is a diversity case, in the absence of a controlling decision from the Florida Supreme Court, this Court must follow decisions from the Florida intermediate appellate [11] courts unless there is some persuasive indication that the Supreme Court would decide the case differently.Raie v. Cheminova, Inc., 336 F.3d 1278, 1280 (11th Cir. 2003); United Techs. Corp. v. Mazer, 556 F.3d 1260, 1274 (11th Cir. 2009) (citations and quotation omitted) (“Absent some indication that the Florida Supreme Court would hold otherwise, federal courts are bound to adhere to the decisions of Florida’s intermediate courts.”). Indeed, the Florida Supreme Court has held that “[t]he decisions of the district courts of appeal represent the law of Florida unless and until they are overruled by [the Florida Supreme Court].” Pardo v. State, 596 So. 2d 665, 666 (Fla. 1992)(quoting Stanfill v. State, 384 So. 2d 141, 143 (Fla. 1980)); see also McMahan v. Toto, 311 F.3d 1077, 1080 (11th Cir. 2002). If there are no state decisions on point, this Court “may make an educated guess as to what the Florida courts would decide if this case were presented to them.”Smigiel v. Aetna Cas. and Sur. Co., 785 F.2d 922, 925 (11th Cir.1986) (citation omitted).
The Florida Supreme Court has not spoken on the precise issue of whether the delayed discovery doctrine applies to non-intentional tort claims [12] for childhood sexual abuse brought against non-perpetrator tortfeasors. It has, however, expressly stated that “Hearndon is limited to the specific facts in that case.” Davis, 832 So. 2d at 712. The Supreme Court also explained that “in the narrow circumstance of lack of memory in childhood sexual abuse cases, the doctrine was appropriate because the lack of memory was caused by the abuser-a situation similar to the statutory circumstances to which the doctrine applies.” Id. at 710. The Third District Court of Appeal has held that the doctrine does not apply to non-intentional tort claims. Cisko, 123 So. 3d at 84.
Plaintiff brings claims against the Church, the School, and the Diocese for respondeat superior, negligent supervision and retention, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty. Absent some persuasive indication that the Florida Supreme Court would decide the case differently, the holding in Cisko likewise precludes Plaintiffs negligent supervision and retention, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty claims.7
Moreover, the Eleventh Circuit has also recognized that “Hearndon’s expansion [13] of the statutory delayed discovery doctrine is as narrow as can be.” Raie, 336 F.3d at 1281-82(concluding that Hearndon was an exceedingly narrow decision that does not justify similar extensions of the delayed discovery rule to instances beyond those for which the Florida Legislature provided by statute.”).
Accordingly, Cisko will be followed as Florida substantive law and Plaintiffs negligent supervision and retention, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty claims are barred by the statute of limitations as a matter of law.
2. Count III—Respondeat Superior/Vicarious Liability
Plaintiff seeks to hold all of the Church Defendants vicariously liable for the acts of Caridad and Biggers under the doctrine of respondeat superior. Defendants first contend that this claim is likewise barred by the statute of limitations, as discussed, and summarily classify the claim as one grounded in negligence. Second, they assert that as a matter of law, the acts of Caridad and Biggers fall outside the course and scope of their employment and did not further the purpose or interest of the Church Defendants. Plaintiff responds that the claim is based on the intentional torts of Caridad and Biggers, and [14] therefore not time-barred by operation of the delayed discovery doctrine, regardless of whether this Court follows Cisko. Second, he argues that whether Caridad’s and Bigger’s conduct falls outside the course and scope of their employment and was in furtherance of the interests of the Church Defendants are questions of fact not yet ripe for review.
Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer can be vicariously liable for the acts of its employees performed within the course of their agency or employment. Dieas v. Assoc. Loan Co., 99 So. 2d 279, 281 (Fla. 1957). Unlike a cause of action for negligent hiring or retention which is grounded on the negligence of the employer, the negligence of the employer is irrelevant to a cause of action based on respondeat superior. See Island City Flying Serv. v. Gen. Elec. Credit Corp., 585 So. 2d 274, 278 (Fla. 1991) (citing Mallory v. O’Neil, 69 So. 2d 313, 315 (Fla. 1954)).Under the theory of respondeat superior, the employer is not liable if the employee is not liable.Mallory, 69 So. 2d at 315; Bankers Multiple Line Ins. Co. v. Farish, 464 So. 2d 530, 532 (Fla. 1985) (“when a principal’s liability rests solely on the doctrine of respondeat [15] superior, a principal cannot be held liable if the agent is exonerated.”). It follows that Plaintiffs claim against the Church Defendants alleging that they are vicariously liable for the acts of Caridad and Biggers is based on the intentional torts, allegedly committed by them, not on the negligence of the Church Defendants. Accordingly, this claim is grounded in intentional tort to which the delayed discovery doctrine applies under Hearndon and Cisko, and is not time-barred.
Admittedly, the application of the delayed discovery doctrine to this claim is distinguishable fromHearndon and Cisko in that it is not a claim directly against the perpetrator. However, because the liability of the Church Defendants would be vicarious and based solely on the alleged acts of the abusers/perpetrators, it necessarily falls within the narrow application of the delayed discovery doctrine of Hearndon. See Arthur v. Unicare Health Facilities, Inc., 602 So. 2d 596 (Fla. 2d DCA 1992) (medical malpractice statute of limitations applies to causes of action against an employer for vicarious liability “if [16] liability is predicated solely upon the acts of a professional employee who has the benefit of the statute.”) (citing Sheils v. Jack Eckerd Corp., 560 So. 2d 361 (Fla. 2d DCA1990) (statute of limitations for actions for professional malpractice was applicable to claims against employer predicated solely on the negligence of the employee)).Moreover, it is persuasive that section 95.11 (7), on which both Hearndon and Cisko partly rely, contains no limitation that the claim be one against the perpetrator in order for it to apply.
The next question is whether the acts of Caridad and Biggers, as alleged in the Complaint, plausibly fall within the course and scope of their employment and were to further the purpose or interest of the Church Defendants. “Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer cannot be held liable for the tortious or criminal acts of an employee, unless the acts were committed during the course of the employment and to further a purpose or interest, however excessive or misguided, of the employer.” Iglesia Cristiana La Casa Del Senor, Inc. v. L.M., 783 So. 2d 353, 356 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001) (citing Nazareth v. Herndon Ambulance Serv., Inc., 467 So. 2d 1076, 1078 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985)); [17] Perez v. Zazo, 498 So.2d 463, 465 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986)(“It is entirely clear that responsibility for the intentional wrongful acts of a servant-employee may be visited upon his master-employer under the doctrine of respondeat superior only when that conduct in some way furthers the interests of the master or is at least motivated by a purpose to serve those interests, rather than the employee’s own.”)(footnote omitted). “Under Florida law, an employee’s conduct is within the scope of his employment where: 1) the conduct is of the kind he was employed to perform; 2) the conduct occurs substantially within the time and space limits authorized or required by the work to be performed, and 3) the conduct is activated at least in part by a purpose to serve the master.” Iglesia Cristiana La Casa Del Senor, Inc., 783 So. 2d at 357 (citing Sussman v. Florida E. Coast Props., Inc., 557 So. 2d 74, 75-76 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990));Gowan v. Bay Cnty., 744 So. 2d 1136,1138 (Fla. lst DCA1999).
‘”Generally, sexual assaults and batteries by employees are held to be outside the scope of an employee’s employment and, therefore, insufficient to impose vicarious liability on the employer.'”Special Olympics Florida, Inc. v. Showalter, 6 So. 3d 662, 665 (Fla. 5th DCA 2009) [18] (quotingNazareth, 467 So. 2d at 1078). However, courts have recognized an exception where the employee/tortfeasor was assisted in accomplishing the tort by the existence of the employee/employer relationship. Iglesia Cristiana La Casa Del Senor, Inc., 783 So. 2d at 357(citing Nazareth, 467 So. 2d at 1078); Grice v. Air Products and Chem., Inc., No. 3:98-cv-205/RV, 22000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5621, 000 WL 353010, *13 (N.D. Fla. Feb. 7, 2000) (citing Hennagan v. Dep’t of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 467 So. 2d 748 (Fla. 1st DCA 1965)).
A number of courts have concluded that sexual abuse by members of the clergy does not fall within the course or scope of employment as a matter of law, even at the motion to dismiss stage. See, e.g., Elders v. United Methodist Church, 793 So. 2d 1038, 1039 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001)(affirming dismissal of respondeat superior claims); Tell v. Roman Catholic Bishops of Diocese of Allentown, CIVA09C05171 JAP, 2010 Del. Super. LEXIS 162, 2010 WL 1691199, *11 & n.61 (Del. Super. Apr. 26, 2010) (“The courts which have considered the issue have overwhelmingly, if not uniformly, have held that a priest who sexually abuses another is not acting within the scope of his employment.”) (collecting cases); Doe v. Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corp., 268 F. Supp.2d 139, 142 (D. Conn. 2003) [19] (“Usually, it is a question of fact as to whether a wilful tort of the servant has occurred within the scope of the servant’s employment and was done to further his master’s business….But there are occasional cases where a servant’s digression from duty is so clear-cut that the disposition of the case becomes a matter of law…. Cases of sexualabuse often represent such a strong deviation from furthering an employer’s business.”) (citations and quotation omitted).
Notwithstanding the rationale of these cases, an exception to the general rule is recognized in Florida, where “the tortfeasor was assisted in accomplishing the tort by virtue of the employer/employee relationship.” Iglesia Cristiana La Casa Del Senor, Inc., 783 So. 2d at 357. Based on the allegations in the Complaint, and because it is a fact intensive inquiry, this issue is more appropriately addressed at the summary judgment stage. See, e.g., id at 353 (case proceeded to jury trial on the issue); United Technologies Corp. v. Mazer, 556 F.3d 1260, 1273 (11th Cir. 2009). For example, the Complaint includes allegations that Caridad, a Priest and a teacher, and Biggers, a teacher and Choir Master, abused Plaintiff on Church [20] and School property, utilized their positions of authority to manipulate and intimidate Plaintiff, a minor at the time, had access to and the opportunity to abuse Plaintiff because of their official positions and duties, and that Biggers abused Plaintiff while giving him piano lessons as part of his education and while on Church choir trips. Therefore, this claim survives Defendants’ motions to dismiss.
3. The Corporate Existence of the Church and School
The Church also moves to dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint on the ground Plaintiff has failed to plead sufficient facts to establish the existence of either Defendant as a corporate entity at the time the alleged abuse occurred. For example, Plaintiff alleges that the School “was founded in 1951 but not incorporated until 2000” and merely that the Church “is a Florida non-profit religious institution.” (Dkt. 1 at ¶¶ 2, 3). However, Plaintiff also alleges that “[u]ntil 2000, Defendant Church and Defendant School were a single entity operating within the Diocese.” (Id. at ¶ 3). Plaintiff concedes that under Florida law, an unincorporated church does not have the capacity to be sued, but asserts that he is not required to prove the corporate [21] existence of the Defendants at this time. (Dkt. 11 at 18 n.8).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(a) states: “Except when required to show that the court has jurisdiction, a pleading need not allege: (A) a party’s capacity to sue or be sued.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(a)(1)(A). Plaintiffs allegations do not conclusively establish whether the Church or the School lack capacity to be sued. In addition, neither the Church nor the School have specifically denied that they lack the capacity to be sued. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(a)(2). The capacity of the Defendants to be sued is more appropriately addressed in a dispositive motion.
4. Defendant Caridad’s Motion to Dismiss
For the reasons discussed, Caridad’s Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 5) will be denied. In addition, as Plaintiffs claims against Caridad and Biggers are for battery, abuse, and sexual abuse, intentional tort claims, the delayed discovery doctrine as adopted in Hearndon applies to these claims, and they are not barred by the applicable statute of limitations.
Caridad also contends that the Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over Counts I-VI pursuant to the First Amendment. He argues that the negligent supervision and retention claim [22] against the Church Defendants is barred by the First Amendment. The Florida Supreme Court has held otherwise.8 Malicki v. Doe, 814 So. 2d 347, 365 (Fla. 2002) (the First Amendmentdoes not bar claims for negligent hiring and supervision); also Doe v. Evans, 814 So. 2d 370, 377 (Fla. 2002) (holding that the First Amendment does not bar consideration of negligent hiring and supervision and breach of fiduciary duty claims against a religious institution based on alleged sexual misconduct a member of its clergy with a parishioner). “[W]ith regard to a third party tort claim against a religious institution,… the First Amendment does not provide a shield behind which a church may avoid liability for harm arising from an alleged sexual assault and battery by one of its clergy members.” Malicki v. Doe, 814 So. 2d at 365.
Lastly, Caridad argues that Plaintiff may not proceed anonymously as “John Doe.” Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 10(a) requires that “every pleading” in federal [23] court “must name all the parties.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(a). However, “[a] party may proceed anonymously in a civil suit in federal court by showing that he ‘has a substantial privacy right which outweighs the customary and constitutionally-embedded presumption of openness in judicial proceedings.”‘ Plaintiff B v. Francis, 631 F.3d 1310, 1315-16 (11th Cir. 2011) (quoting Doe v. Frank, 951 F.2d 320, 323 (11th Cir.1992)). Francis considered whether “the issues involved are matters of a sensitive and highly personal nature” such that the “practice of disclosing the parties’ identities ‘yields to a policy of protecting privacy in a very private matter.'” Id. (quoting S. Methodist Univ. Ass’n of Women Law Students v. Wynne & Jaffe, 599 F.2d 707, 712-13 (5th Cir. 1979)).9 It is not enough to suggest that a party may “suffer some personal embarrassment.” Frank, 951 F.2d at 324. The court found that “[t]he issues involved in this case could not be of a more sensitive and highly personal nature—they involve descriptions of the Plaintiffs in various stages of nudity and engaged in explicit sexual conduct while they were minors who were coerced by the Defendants into those activities.” Id. at 1316-17.
Plaintiffs allegations of childhood sexual abuse by members of the clergy and employees of the Church, School, and/or Diocese while he was a minor are similarly of a sensitive and highly [25] personal nature. Moreover, at this time Plaintiff only seeks to remain anonymous in court filings. (Dkt. 7 at 4 n. 1). Caridad does not suggest he will suffer any prejudice, and therefore Plaintiff may proceed anonymously at this time. However, any request to proceed anonymously other than in court filings must be formally made and demonstrate a “substantial privacy right which outweighs the customary and constitutionally-embedded presumption of openness in judicial proceedings.” See Francis, 631 F.3d at 1315-16.
Accordingly,
1. Defendant, Jon Caridad’s, Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint (Dkt. 5) is GRANTED to the extent that Counts IV, V and VI are DISMISSED with prejudice and DENIED as to Counts I, II and III.
2. Defendant, Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, Inc.’s, Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint (Dkt. 8) is GRANTED to the extent that Counts IV, V and VI are DISMISSED with prejudice and DENIED as to Count III.
3. Defendants St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School, Inc.’s and St. John’s Church’s Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 6) is GRANTED to the extent that Counts IV, V and VI are DISMISSED with prejudice and DENIED as to Count III.
4. Defendants shall answer the Complaint within [26] fourteen (14) days of the date of this Order.
DONE AND ORDERED this 11th day of February, 2014.
/s/ James D. Whittemore
JAMES D. WHITTEMORE
United States District Judge
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SD panel approves child sex abuse task force
/in South Dakota /by SOL ReformProfessor Marci A. Hamilton:
SD panel approves child sex abuse task force
By NORA HERTEL, Associated Press
Updated 1:28 pm, Tuesday, February 11, 2014
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s Senate Education Committee unanimously approved a bill Tuesday to establish a task force that would study the impact of child sexual abuse.
The group would be named Jolene’s Law Task Force after Jolene Loetscher of Sioux Falls, a victim of sexual abuse as a teenager who has spoken publicly about her story.
The task force would meet to study child sexual abuse in South Dakota and suggest ways the state could improve its policies for dealing with the problem.
“We owe it to everyone to give all of those children out there the right to become survivors,” Loetscher said, in support of the bill.
The Associated Press generally does not normally name the victims of sexual abuse but is naming Loetscher because she has come forward and spoken publicly.
The task force would include a victim, law enforcement, medical and mental health experts, child advocates and a tribal representative with experience on the issue. It includes a $21,000 allocation from the Legislative Research Council to fund meetings later this year.
The measure now goes to the full Senate.
The bill’s main sponsor, Sen. Deb. Soholt, R-Sioux Falls, said one in four girls and one in six boys are victims of sexual assault.
“This is an adult problem,” Soholt said.
Soholt initially thought she would propose a school mandate and take direct action addressing the issue. But after talking to educators, she determined more investigation needs to be done.
“What I came to understand is that we don’t know what to do,” Soholt said.
Hollie Strand, a forensic interviewer who talks to children in abuse cases, said she has noticed inconsistency in how organizations address this problem.
“Everybody has a different response to this. I don’t think we know as a state who’s getting it right and who’s getting it wrong,” Strand said.
Dr. Nancy Free, a pediatrician and expert in the evaluation and treatment of abused and neglected children, said child sexual abuse often goes unreported, causing later problems.
“It’s expensive to take care of adults who have been victimized and not helped,” Free said.
She said adults who suffered sexual abuse as children have high rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease and depression.
Other supporters of the bill included child advocacy organizations and the state Department of Social Services. No one spoke in opposition to the bill.
“These are the most vulnerable victims that there are,” said Dick Tieszen of the South Dakota Sheriffs’ Association. “The problem is here, next we need to understand it.”
Judge hearing Horace Mann suit asked to step down because he’s an alum
/in New York /by SOL ReformHorace Mann, SOLs, and Insurance coverage
Judge hearing Horace Mann suit asked to step down because he’s an alum
Old school ties may have put a Manhattan judge in a bind.
Lawyers for insurance companies locked in a legal battle with the tony private school Horace Mann over sex abuse claims want the judge hearing the case expelled because he’s an alum, according to court documents filed Monday.
RELATED: THE LAW VS. CHILD SEX ABUSE VICTIMS
Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Charles Ramos is a graduate of the ivy-covered Bronx institution and therefore not an impartial arbiter, the insurance lawyers argued in the court filing.
Ramos, a 30-year veteran of the courts, graduated from Horace Mann in 1958.
RELATED: HORACE MANN WANTS DETAILS OF SEX ABUSE SETTLEMENTS CONFIDENTIAL
Lawyers for Horace Mann had no objection to one of their own handling the case, court papers showed.
Horace Mann filed a lawsuit against its three insurance companies — all subsidiaries of AIG — last August over $1 million in settlements with two students who claimed they were abused while attending the school in the 1990s.
RELATED: SCHOOL KEPT INSURANCE COMPANY IN DARK IN SEX ABUSE SUITS: COURT PAPERS
The insurance companies refused to pay out – sparking the latest round of litigation that landed on Judge Ramos’s desk.
Mark Errico, lawyer for the insurance companies, said he got an email Jan. 24 alerting him to Ramos’s schoolboy connection to Horace Mann.
RELATED: HORACE MANN TRUSTEES QUIT OVER SEX ABUSE PAYOUTS: SOURCES
“An appearance of impropriety exists based on Your Honor’s status as an alumnus of Horace Mann,” Errico said in the Feb. 7 filing.
“Although this connection alone is insufficient to warrant mandatory recusal, Your Honor’s affiliation with the school may cast doubt on your impartiality and could call into question the propriety of this court’s future rulings in this matter,” he noted.
RELATED: MORE VICS, PERPS CITED IN HORACE MANN SEX ABUSE SCANDAL
Errico cited the intense media interest generated by the Horace Mann sex scandal, which gained national attention in the summer of 2012 with a bombshell report in the New York Times.
Approximately 32 students have said they were abused over decades at the once-revered school. Almost all of them have received settlements from Horace Mann.
RELATED: HORACE MANN SUES AIG FOR $1M IN SEX ABUSE SETTLEMENTS
Another student, known as John Doe, has filed a suit in New Jersey, where the statute of limitations on sex abuse cases is more lenient than in New York.
John Doe has alleged he was sexually abused for years by Horace Mann’s legendary music teacher Johannes Somary.
Somary has been named as a serial abuser by several other Horace Mann victims, who also claim school officials colluded over decades to cover up his crimes and similar sexual abuse from other teachers.
gotis@nydailynews.com
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/judge-asked-step-horace-mann-suit-article-1.1608628#ixzz2t2qG9HpA
Iowa SOL Bill renamed SF2109
/in Iowa /by SOL ReformUpdated Professor Hamilton Testimony to reflect bill name change from SB 3112 to SF 2109
02/08/13: Hawaii Action Alert
/in Hawaii /by SOL Reform