Virginia: Special Cases – A Lawyer’s Abuse

On April 29, 2021, the Virginia Supreme Court unanimously affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded a personal injury case for sexual molestation of a minor in a pastor’s home against various individual and institutional church defendants. Specifically, it reversed and remanded certain counts for negligent hiring or retention and all claims for vicarious liability and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Further, it affirmed dismissal of claims for willful and wanton negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud by nondisclosure, failure to warn and to protect, and some negligent hiring or retention. The case is Doe v. Baker, VSC Record No. 200386.