An Everett woman has gone to court seeking damages against an Everett church and its pastor, whom she accuses of entering into a sexual relationship with her “under the guise of marital counseling.”
The woman, who is identified only as T.B. in court documents, is seeking unspecified monetary damages from Pastor Dwight Schultz and Grace Lutheran Church. The Snohomish County Superior Court civil lawsuit was filed in October, and the court this week set a Feb. 2, 2009, jury trial date.
Attorneys for Schultz and the church say there was no impropriety by either of their clients.
Seattle attorney Andrew Gauen said Schultz denies having the affair and any sexual misconduct.
“The church did investigate it and determined (the accusation) was without merit,” Gauen said.
Steve Goldstein, Seattle lawyer for the church, said Grace Lutheran is backing Schultz.
“Pastor Schultz denies the allegations and the church stands behind him,” Goldstein said.
The lawsuit was filed identifying the plaintiff only by her initials to protect her privacy, said Rebecca Roe, the plaintiff’s attorney.
Gauen said he is concerned that the lawsuit was filed anonymously while the church and pastor are named.
“All these people are entitled to their privacy,” Gauen said.
Judges say that a plaintiff filing a case anonymously is rare, but it does happen.
“It’s an unusual occurrence that is seldom used in this county,” Superior Court Judge Ronald Castleberry said Friday. “But I’m familiar with it in this state and elsewhere.”
One case filed in 2005 in Snohomish County Superior Court last year resulted in a settlement between an unidentified man and the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle for alleged sexual abuse.
In the case involving T.B., Roe alleged in documents that Schultz used his position of trust as a pastor and spiritual leader to manipulate the woman into having a sexual relationship with him. She accused the pastor of cultivating a counseling relationship that included numerous private meetings, dates over coffee and meals and walks in several parks during 2004 and 2005.
The relationship became sexual in April 2005, the complaint alleges.
The complaint also alleges several people in “positions of responsibility” at the church knew of the misconduct “and failed to take appropriate action to prevent harm.”
According to the complaint, the pastor “preyed upon other women members of his religious organization during his tenure at Grace Lutheran Church.”
In an interview, Roe said church leaders “were aware he was having contact with women that they had asked him not to have.”
Her client experienced emotional distress and should be compensated, Roe said, and “she wants to put a stop to this guy.”
Lawyers for Schultz and the church have filed court responses seeking dismissal of the lawsuit.
Gauen said there was no counseling relationship between the pastor and the woman. In a sworn deposition taken outside of court, T.B. described her connection to the pastor as “a friendship,” Gauen said.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or jhaley@heraldnet.com.
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