Judge Threatens to Toss Suit Against Minnesota Diocese

A federal judge is threatening to throw out a Nevada man’s lawsuit against a diocese in southwestern Minnesota over claims he was sexually abused by an Irish priest.

U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen ruled Monday the plaintiff has failed to prove that her court has jurisdiction. She gave him seven days to fix the problems or she’ll dismiss the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges the Diocese of New Ulm knew of past abuse allegations against the Rev. Francis Markey and failed to warn parents or children.

The plaintiff is not identified in the lawsuit. The suit accuses the diocese of fraud and conspiracy for failing to disclose what it knew about Markey when the priest was assigned there in 1982.

A phone message for the plaintiff’s attorney was not returned Monday.