Trial begins in priest abuse case
By Associated Press

The first priest sex abuse lawsuit filed under a Delaware law allowing alleged victims to pursue claims for abuse that happened decades ago is set for trial.

Opening statements were heard Monday in a lawsuit filed against the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales by 63-year-old James Sheehan, who claims he was sexually abused as a boy by one of the order's priests.

The trial is the first for a lawsuit filed under a 2007 law that created a two-year window allowing claims of abuse to be brought even if the statute of limitations had expired. More than 175 lawsuits were filed before the window closed this summer.

Sheehan already has settled with the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, which was a co-defendant.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

WDEL News Tools: • Printer friendly version • Email this story • Back to homepage

Get the day's top stories delivered to your email! Sign up for WDEL E-News Updates with the WDEL Members Only Group.

Copyright © Feb 09, 2010, WDEL/Delmarva Broadcasting Company. All Rights Reserved.
Advanced permission from Delmarva Broadcasting Company required for publication or rebroadcast.