The North Carolina Supreme Court is set to hear cases related to the SAFE Child Act, which allows victims of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits even after the statute of limitations has expired. Scheduled for oral arguments on Sept. 18, the cases involve claims against organizations such as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church. The Charlotte Diocese has asked the court to rule against plaintiffs on the grounds of res judicata, which bars parties from relitigating a case with a final decision. The plaintiffs argue that the SAFE Child Act voids res judicata and revives their claims, but the Diocese contends that the legislation does not cover their specific claims. State Attorney General Josh Stein defended the SAFE Child Act, stating that it aims to protect children from sexual abuse and give victims a chance to seek justice. The plaintiffs filed appeals after their lawsuits were dismissed, and the state Supreme Court is set to decide whether the law is constitutional. In a separate case involving the Gaston County school board, Justice Allison Riggs will not participate due to her previous involvement in the Appeals Court ruling against the board. The appeals court decision denied the board’s attempt to use the statute of limitations as a defense against civil liability for failing to protect children from a sexually abusive employee. The court emphasized that statutes of limitations should not be elevated to inviolable constitutional rights.
Source
Photo credit www.carolinajournal.com