Former Oregon Resident Files $16M Sex-Abuse Suit Against Church

February 19, 2013

A 34-year-old woman who was raised near Portland, Ore. has filed a $16 million lawsuit, alleging she was the victim of sexual abuse as a teenager.

The Oregonian newspaper reported that Cristie Prasnikar, who now lives out of state, filed the federal lawsuit in Portland against 65-year-old Ralph Veerkamp, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Lake Oswego and Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

The lawsuit contends Prasnikar was 15 when Veerkamp started the abuse, and that the church failed to effective action after learning of the suspicious conduct.

Veerkamp, a former church youth group leader, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Our Savior’s Pastor Louis Brunner told The Oregonian he was unaware of the lawsuit, so it would be inappropriate to comment.

Topics Lawsuits Oregon

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