wfn.org | Florida-Bahamas Synod Settles Court Case (corrected line endings)

[NEWS <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

May 18, 1999

FLORIDA-BAHAMAS SYNOD SETTLES COURT CASE
99-132-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA)   The Florida-Bahamas Synod, one of 65 synods of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will pay $250,000 in
a settlement to a Fort Lauderdale woman who was abused in counseling by
a former pastor in the synod.
     In her suit, Kerry Fitzgerald claimed that then-Rev. Conny
Sjostrom initiated improper sexual contact with her in 1992, early in
her counseling sessions with him.  Fitzgerald reported the misconduct in
1994, and Sjostrom resigned immediately when confronted by the Rev.
Lavern G. Franzen, who was then bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod.
     At the time of improper conduct, Sjostrom was serving as a drug
and alcohol counselor at St. Francis Chapel in Fort Lauderdale, an ELCA
congregation that has since disbanded.  During the trial Fitzgerald's
attorneys suggested the synod knew about Sjostrom's improper conduct, a
point denied by the synod.
     A Broward County jury found the Florida-Bahamas Synod was
negligent in its supervision of Sjostrom and awarded $116,800 for pain
and suffering and for additional therapy costs.  The jury also said the
synod should pay punitive damages, but the case was settled May 6 before
any final ruling was entered.
     The jury cleared the churchwide organization of the ELCA of
responsibility in the case.  Fitzgerald had included the church body in
her original suit.  Sjostrom himself settled earlier with Fitzgerald.
     "As was the case with my predecessor (Franzen), I have zero
tolerance for sexual misconduct by any of our rostered persons," said
the Rev. William B. Trexler, current bishop of the Florida-Bahamas
Synod. Trexler said the ELCA and the synod are committed "to keeping the
church a safe place for all people."

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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