Forced Baptism Lawsuit Refiled in Lake County
A federal lawsuit that claimed a boy's mentors forcibly baptism him, which was dismissed in October, has been refiled as a civil lawsuit in Lake County, according to the 16-page document.
A federal lawsuit that claimed a boy’s mentors forcibly baptism him, which was dismissed in October, has been refiled as a civil lawsuit in Lake County, according to the 16-page document.
The state lawsuit, filed by the DeFibaughs’ lawyer Kenneth D. Myers, makes similar claims as the original federal lawsuit.
The baptism took place on Aug. 28 at Morning Star Friends Church on Ravenna Road, and the boy, who was then 11 and is disabled, “has suffered and continues to suffer severe emotional distress and anxiety, confusion and anger,” his parents, April and Gregg DeFibaugh, claimed in March of 2017.
Defendants listed include Margaret Vaughn, a court-appointed guardian who worked for CASA for Kids, and David Guarnera, a Big Brother volunteer recruited by Vaughn. Both are congregation members of Morning Star Friends Church.
“It is unfortunate and disappointing that this matter is again filed by this family,” Vaughn wrote in an email. “The family contends that there was some conspiracy to cause damages to them. The Federal Court already ruled that there was no conspiracy and that the claims could not be pursued against the defendants.”
She also wrote that she feels proud of her 500 volunteer hours and asked, “What was going on in this family that it became necessary for there to be a Juvenile Court involvement with them?”
“It is discouraging to me that I have to defend myself against false allegations again, but apparently that is what I must do, and my attorney and I will aggressively defend these claims,” she wrote.
Fellow listed defendants are the church, the church’s pastor, and both the CASA organization and Big Brothers/Big Sisters Board of Trustees.
Because Big Brothers/Big Sisters is located in Painesville, the lawsuit could be brought in Lake County instead of Geauga County, where the other defendants are located.
A full accounting of the original lawsuit can be read in the online version of this story. Cell phone video of the baptism is also available online.
The new lawsuit asks for compensatory and punitive damages.
Myers, the DeFibaughs’ lawyer, did not return an email or phone message seeking comment.
