US Supreme Court Catalog of Briefs
1999-1088
R., BRYAN V. WATCHTOWER BIBLE
Please note: 2 brief minimum per order
Filing Date Brief Description Price Availability
2/28/1999 Petition for writ of certiorari
1/25/2000 Brief of Respondent
2/17/2000 Docket Sheet
QUESTION PRESENTEDDoes the First Amendment preclude a civil court fromholding a religious organization liable for its negligent orreckless or intentional failure to stop a known, adult, childmolester member of the church from sexually abusinganother child member of the religion? _1. At present, there is a split among state courts as well asamong federal circuits -- and generally, great confusion -- as towhether the First Amendment has any kind of preclusive impact onclaims alleging tortious activity on the part of religious organizationsthat allowed, enabled or encouraged sexual molestation of childrento take place. See e.g., courts holding generally that the FirstAmendment does not bar tort liability -- Martinelli v. BridgeportCathohc Diocesan Corp., 10 F. Supp. 138 (D. Conn. 1998), aff'd inpart, vacated in part by Martinelli v. Bridgeport Catholic DiocesanCorp., __ F.3d, 1999 WL 1041457 (2nd Cir. 1999); Smith v.O'Connell, 986 F. Supp. 73 (D.R.I. 1997); Barquin v. RomanCatholic Diocese of Burlington, Vt.,839 F. Supp. 275 (D. Vt. 1993);Parks v. Kownacki, 711 N.E.2d 1208 (Ill. App. 1999); CJC v.Corporation of Catholic Bishop of Yakima, 985 P.2d 262 (Wash.1999); Doe v. Hartford Roman Catholic Diocesan Corp., 716 A.2d960 (Coma Super. 1998); Smith v. Privette, 495 S.E.2d 395 (N.C.App. 1998), appeal dismissed by Smith v. Privette, 501 S.E.2d 913;Rosado v. Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocesan Corp., 716 A.2d967 (Conn. Super. 1998); Heroux v. Carpentier, 1998 WL 388298(R.I. Super. 1998); Corsie v. Campanalonga, 721 A.2d 733 (N.J.Super. App. 1998), appeal granted in part, decision reversed inpart by Corsie v. Campanalonga, 734 A.2d 788 (N.J. 1999); F.G. v.MacDonell, 696 A.2d 697 (N.J. 1997); Kenneth R. v. Roman CatholicDiocese of Brooklyn, 654 N.Y.S.2d 791 (N.Y. App. 1997), cert.denied Kenneth R. v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, 522 U.S.967; Gibson v. Brewer, 952 S.W.2d 239 (Mo. 1997); Konkle v.Henderson, 672 N.E.2d 450 (Ind. App. 1996); Doe v. Dorsey, 683So.2d 614 (Fla. Dist. App. 1996); Bear Valley Church of Christ v.(Cont'd)