Appeals Court: Insurance Doesn’t Cover Wisconsin Priest Sex Abuse

A state appeals court says the Milwaukee, Wis., Archdiocese’s insurance company isn’t liable for damages that could come out of more than a dozen priest sex abuse lawsuits.

At issue in the case are 13 lawsuits accusing the Archdiocese of misrepresentation. They allege the archdiocese realized priests posed a threat to children but still insisted they did not have histories of molesting children and weren’t a danger to kids.

Two trial judges ruled the archdiocese’s insurer, OneBeacon Insurance Co., wasn’t liable to cover damages arising from the suits. They said the archdiocese’ policy covers accidents.

The 1st District Court of Appeals agreed, ruling the misrepresentations were intentional. Archdiocese attorneys didn’t immediately return messages.