Madison County Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder has been reassigned to a sexual harassment lawsuit against a pastor of the Canaan Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Madison.
According to the complaint, Rev. Donald Sanford allegedly made sexual advances toward plaintiff Jane Doe after she sought counseling for “various types of secular issues.”
She alleges in her complaint that the pastor’s position of authority compelled her to consent to several encounters, which Sanford denied.
The Canaan Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, also named as defendant, claims that any contact that may have occurred between Doe and Sanford was consensual.
Doe seeks a judgment of more than $50,000.
Crowder has scheduled a case management conference for Feb. 26, 2014, at 9 a.m.
Robert Elovitz of Edwardsville represents Sanford.
Steven J. Hughes and Natalie J. Higgins of Pitzer Snodgrass in St. Louis represent the church.
Eugene K. Hollander, Paul W. Ryan and Gina M. Smith of Chicago represent Doe.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 13-L-160
Crowder reassigned to parishioner’s sexual harassment case
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