Statute of limitations argued in sexual abuse lawsuit against Diocese of Manchester

SHOULD APPLY. THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES THAT THE ABUSE HAPPENED AT CAMP FATIMA FROM APPROXIMATELY 1974 TO 76. THE DEFENDANTS INCLUDE THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER AND THE ASSOCIATED CAMPS, BERNADETTE AND FATIMA. THE DEFENSE SAYS THE SUIT SHOULD BE DISMISSED WITHOUT A TRIAL. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS WOULD APPLY TO BAR HIS CLAIMS AT THIS POINT. THE COMPLAINT GOES INTO GRAPHIC DETAIL ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE ALLEGED ABUSE, BUT THE DEFENSE SAYS THAT’S NOT WHAT IS AT ISSUE. THERE’S NO DISPUTE ABOUT THAT, YOUR HONOR. THE CONDUCT THAT’S ALLEGED HERE OCCURRED IN THE MID 1970S AND UNDER THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN EFFECT AT THE TIME, THE PLAINTIFF WOULD HAVE HAD TO BRING HIS SUIT BY THE MID 80S. AND HE DIDN’T DO SO AT THIS POINT. THE DEFENDANTS HAVE A CONSTITUTIONALLY VESTED RIGHT AND THE CASE LAW IS CLEAR THAT THAT RIGHT CANNOT BE DEPRIVED BY FURTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTION. WHAT WE’RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT HERE, YOUR HONOR, IS THE CLAIM THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD A VESTED RIGHT IN EVADING SCRUTINY BY EVADING ACCOUNTABILITY. THE LAWYERS FOR THE PLAINTIFF NOTED THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS MADE SEVERAL EXTENSIONS TO THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN THESE CASES BEFORE FINALLY DECIDING HOW TO TREAT CERTAIN INSTANCES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT THERE BE NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN THE EVENT OF THIS SORT OF CHILD ABUSE. THERE’S NO WORD ON WHEN THE JUDGE MIGHT MAKE A DECISION, AS SHE TOOK T