Supreme Court of Florida

The First Amendment does not provide a shield to third-party tort claims behind which a church may avoid liability for harm caused to an adult and a child parishioner arising from the alleged sexual assault or battery by one of its clergy.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/14/2002
• Published 03/14/2002

Judges

• PARIENTE, J.

Court

• Supreme Court of Florida

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• James F. Gilbride and Adam D. Horowitz of Gilbride, Heller & Brown, P.A., Miami, FL;  and J. Patrick Fitzgerald, Coral Gables, FL, for Petitioners., Peter A. Miller of Conroy, Simberg & Ganon, Coral Gables, Florida;  and Law Offices of Robert S. Glazier, Miami, FL, for Miami Shores Presbyterian Church, Amicus Curiae., Philip M. Burlington of Caruso, Burlington, Bohn & Compiani, P.A., West Palm Beach, FL, for Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Amicus Curiae.


• For Appellees:
  
• May L. Cain and William J. Snihur, Jr. of Cain & Snihur, North Miami Beach, FL, for Respondents.