Brownson PLLC is pleased to announce that attorneys Robert Brownson and Olivia Cooper obtained a ruling from the United States District Court in Minnesota granting a Motion for Partial Dismissal on behalf of its insurance company client in an insurance coverage case brought by the Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesaota, and thirty one of its parishes through central and western Minnesota, seeking insurance coverage for claims against the Diocese and parishes stemming from alleged priest sexual abuse.

In its Complaint, the Diocese and parishes sought  insurance coverage, and also sought additional damages based upon claims of Promissory Estoppel, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Fraudulent Misrepresentation and Tortious Interference with Contractual Relationships.  In the ruling dated March 5, 2018, Chief Judge John R. Tunheim granted the Motion to Dismiss and ruled that all four counts be dismissed without prejudice.

The case, and ruling, are significant since Catholic Dioceses in Minnesota and elsewhere around the country seek insurance coverage for often decades-old alleged priest abuse. The four counts dismissed by this Order sought further damages from an alleged putative insurer of the Diocese.

The case is Diocese of St. Cloud, et. al. v. Arrowood Indemnity Company, et. al. (U.S. D.C., D. Minn), Civil No. 17-2002 (JRT/LIB). To view the Order, click here.Diocese of St Cloud v Arrowood Indemnity Co Dismissal Order March 5 2018