Judge says Fairbanks diocese liable in layman's sex abuse case
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) _ A Superior Court judge has ruled against the Fairbanks Catholic diocese in the case of a now-deceased lay volunteer who was accused the sexually abusing scores of western Alaska children.
The Fairbanks diocese had claimed it wasn't liable for Joseph Lundowski's abusive conduct while he was under the supervision of Jesuit priest George Endal from about 1959 to 1975.
Superior Court Judge Niejse Steinkruger (NEE'-sha STINE'-croo-ger) issued the partial summary judgment Tuesday on a motion initially filed in May by the plaintiffs' attorneys.
The ruling is not a verdict and does not automatically preclude a trial.
Lundowski died in Chicago in 1996 at age 81.
He is named in 60 of 132 sexual abuse claims against the diocese.
The 60 plaintiffs were among 110 who reached a $50 million settlement in November with the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province and Alaska.