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    Child sex abuse lawsuit settled on appeal in April 2024

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    Child sex abuse lawsuit settled on appeal in April 2024

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pdf or txt
    2K views6 pages

    Gateway Lawsuit Settlement

    Uploaded by

    watchkeep
    Child sex abuse lawsuit settled on appeal in April 2024

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 6

    348-318681-20 FILED

    TARRANT COUNTY
    4/18/2024 4:46 PM
    THOMAS A. WILDER
    DISTRICT CLERK
    CAUSE NO. 348-318681-20

    KRISTI ELLIS, AS NEXT FRIEND OF § IN THE DISTRICT COURT


    A.D, A MINOR CHILD, §
    §
    Plaintiff, §
    v. § TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS
    §
    §
    GATEWAY CHURCH, §
    §
    Defendant. § 348th JUDICIAL DISTRICT

    FINAL JUDGMENT DISPOSING OF ALL CLAIMS

    On this day came to be heard the above-entitled and numbered cause, and appeared Plaintiff

    Kristi Ellis as Next Friend of A.O., a Minor, by and through her attorney. A.O. (the "Minor") also

    appeared through Lynne Nash, the duly appointed Guardian Ad Litem, Lynne Nash. Defendant

    Gateway Church appeared by and through its attorneys ofrecord. All parties having waived a jury,

    it was announced to the Court that an agreement for settlement of all matters in controversy,

    approved and recommended by the parties and the Guardian Ad Litem, had been entered, subject

    to the approval of the Court; and

    It was then announced, subject to the approval of the Court, a compromise and settlement

    was being made of disputed claims and that the parties entered into a confidential Compromise

    Settlement Agreement and Release in full settlement of all claims of Plaintiff against Defendants.

    It was further announced that said Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release was being

    made on disputed claims against Defendants and that Defendants denied any liability to the

    Plaintiff. Defendants agreed to enter into the compromise settlement agreement solely to buy

    peace, without admitting any liability.

    1
    The Court having heard the pleadings and evidence finds as follows:

    I. The terms of the Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release are understood
    by all parties to this suit, and all of them have agreed to such terms;

    2. The Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release is in the best interest of the
    minor, A.D.;

    3. Such sums as are awarded to the Plaintiff A.D., a minor, by the Court in this
    Judgment are accepted in full and final payment of any and all claims and causes
    of action which may have been asserted or might be asserted for damages against
    Defendant Gateway Church alleged to have been sustained by Plaintiff A.D., a
    minor in the incident which forms the basis of this suit;

    It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Defendant Gateway

    Church shall pay or have paid on their behalf to the Minor the sums set forth in the confidential

    Compromise Settlement and Release Agreement which has been presented to and approved by this

    Court. These sums are to be apportioned in accordance with the terms of the Guardian Ad Litem

    Report.

    It is further ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the sum awarded to the

    Minor, A.D. be t\AP"


    a. ~ e d d i r e ~ f t E n i s , • ~ of A.D ..'...

    OR M,f-
    b. ~ P a i d into the Registry of the Court for the use and benefit of the Minor. The

    Court Clerk is ORDERED to place these funds into a savings account, certificate of deposit or

    interest-bearing account at an institution authorized by Section 142.004 of the Texas Property

    Code for the use and benefit of the Minor. The funds may be withdrawn without further Order of

    this court when the Minor reaches the age of eighteen (18), upon presentation of a birth certificate,

    Social Security card, and/or other appropriate identification that provides appropriate proof that

    the Minor has reached the age of eighteen (18). It is further ORDERED that the Tarrant County

    2
    District Clerk shall add any future deposits to the original sum awarded to said Minor A.D. without

    further Order of the Court.

    It is further ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED by this Court that the amounts

    payable pursuant to the Confidential Settlement and Release Agreement shall constitute damages

    received on account of personal physical injuries or physical sickness within the meaning of

    Section 104(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended and that no portion of such

    amounts shall constitute property damages, exemplary damages, or punitive damages.

    It is further ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED by this Court that reasonable fees

    are to be awarded to the Guardian Ad Litem, Lynne Nash, in the amount of

    $__~~'6---'Q'-------· Such Guardian Ad Litem fees shall be taxed against Defendant

    and shall be paid directly to the Guardian Ad Litem.

    It is further ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the Guardian Ad Litem,

    Lynne Nash, is hereby released and discharged from any further duties as Guardian Ad Litem for

    the Minor, A.D.

    As this Judgment has been fully and finally paid, satisfied, and discharged in full, it is

    ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED by the Court that Defendant Gateway Church and its

    respective agents, employees, servants, representatives, insurers, successors, and assigns (as more

    fully defined in the Confidential Settlement and Release Agreement approved by the Court) stand

    fully released and discharged of and from all liabilities, claims, demands and causes of action of

    whatsoever nature asserted or which might have been asserted herein, known or unknown, accrued

    or to accrue, arising from or in any manner growing out of the occurrence made the basis of this

    suit, and no execution shall ever issue against Defendants.

    3
    It is further ORDERED that any and all claims and causes of action of the Plaintiff not

    previously disposed of against Defendant be and are hereby DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

    All relief not expressly granted herein is hereby DENIED.

    SIGNEDthis Lg4k-dayof ~ , 2024.

    JU~

    AGREED AS TO FORM:

    Isl Lindsey M. Rames


    Lindsey M. Rames
    Texas State Bar No. 24072295
    [email protected]
    RAMES LAW FIRM, P.C.
    3710 Rawlins Street #975
    Dallas, Texas 75219
    Telephone: (214) 884-8860
    Facsimile: (888) 482-8894
    ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS

    Isl Paul J. Downey


    MACDONALD DEVIN MADDEN
    KENEFICK & HARRIS, P.C.
    Paul J. Downey
    State Bar No. 24080659
    [email protected]
    12770 Coit Rd.
    11th Floor
    Dallas, TX 75251
    214.744.3300 (Telephone)
    214.747.0942 (Facsimile)
    ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT
    GATEWAY CHURCH

    4
    Automated Certificate of eService
    This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.
    The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system
    on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing
    certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a
    certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

    Envelope ID: 86831867


    Filing Code Description: No Fee Documents
    Filing Description: Notice to Clerk Pursuant to TRCP 21c
    Status as of 4/18/2024 4:54 PM CST

    Associated Case Party: TAHIRAKHANMERRITT

    Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

    Nathan Schwartz [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Nicole Leboeuflaw [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Associated Case Party: KRISTIELLIS

    Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

    Tahira KhanMerritt [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Lindsey Rames 24072295 [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Kristi Ellis [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Jonathan WHARTON [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Kristi Ellis [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Steven Wright [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Case Contacts

    Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

    Jennifer DLeBlanc [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    David MMacdonald [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Tannis MStone [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Nicole TLeBoeuf [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Crystal Charles [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM ERROR

    Admin LeBoeuf [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Associated Case Party: THEGATEWAY CHURCH


    Automated Certificate of eService
    This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.
    The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system
    on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing
    certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a
    certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

    Envelope ID: 86831867


    Filing Code Description: No Fee Documents
    Filing Description: Notice to Clerk Pursuant to TRCP 21c
    Status as of 4/18/2024 4:54 PM CST

    Associated Case Party: THEGATEWAY CHURCH

    Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

    David Macdonald 12755300 [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Paul Downey [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Teresa Biederman [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

    Dustin Gaines [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM ERROR

    Associated Case Party: AD

    Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status

    Lynne MNash [email protected] 4/18/2024 4:46:10 PM SENT

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