JW Child Abuse

Document #	Document	Date
12-0	Philip Brumley Appeal	November 1st, 2024
24-1	Appellee's Response Brief	December 9th, 2024
32-0	Philip Brumley Reply Brief	January 28th. 2025
41-1	Final Judgment	July 7th, 2025

CSA Articles and News

News Center Maine reports on the January 13th. 2025 lawsuit filed by a child abuse survivor against the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Fort Kent Maine and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. Court documents allege that the victim was sexually abused by at least three members of the Fort Kent Congregation from the late 1980s into the 1990s. One of the abusers, Ernie Fyans, was convicted in Aroostook County Maine in September of 2023 and remains in prison on a 20-year sentence. Fyans was serving as an elder in the church during a portion of the time the crimes were committed.

The trial of Shaun Sheffer is scheduled to commence on January 13th, 2025.

The OAG reported on its website that Sheffer "is alleged to have sexually assaulted a young family member, beginning when the child was just 7-years-old. Due to their close relationship, Sheffer was often left alone with her for long periods of time during which he repeatedly raped and assaulted the young girl. He is charged with Rape, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, and Corruption of Minors."

Case Docket

OAG Report

The trial is scheduled to last approximately one week in Butler County

JW Child Abuse

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CSA Articles and News

Jehovah’s Witness Attorney Philip Brumley Appeals Fines For “Reckless Disregard” of the Truth

Jehovah’s Witnesses Sue Editor of JW Child Abuse Website for Millions

VERDICT: Active Jehovah’s Witness Member Found Guilty on 7 Counts of Child Sexual Abuse

Jehovah’s Witnesses Settle Historic Child Abuse Cases in Federal Court

Jehovah’s Witnesses Post Mandatory Reporting Training Instructions, Existing Policies Unchanged

Pennsylvania Opens Grand Jury Criminal Investigation Into Jehovah’s Witnesses

2019: Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses Named as Defendants in Child Abuse Lawsuits

2020: Montana Supreme Court Rules Church Doctrine Trumps Mandatory Abuse Reporting Law, Nunez Verdict Reversed

2019: New York Law Means Justice for Survivors: The Child Victims Act

2016: Watchtower Releases Updated Child Abuse Directive to Elders

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Title	Summary	Link	hf:doc_categories	hf:doc_tags
1-0 Complaint Filed November 12th, 2025	1-0 Complaint Filed	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	brazil jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
2-0 Civil Cover Sheet	2-0 Civil Cover Sheet	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	brazil jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
9-0 Complaint With Exhibits	9-0 Resubmitted Complaint	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	brazil jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
9-1 Exhibit 1 – Messages from Angelo Roviezzo	9-1 Exhibit 1 – Messages from Angelo Roviezzo	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	brazil jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
9-2 Exhibit 2 – Messages from Adelmo Batista	9-2 Exhibit 2 – Messages from Adelmo Batista	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	brazil jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
9-3 Exhibit 3 – 2017 Police Investigation	9-3 Exhibit 3 – 2017 Police Investigation	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	brazil jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
27-0 Defendant Watchtower Request for Pre Motion Conference	27-0 Watchtower Conference Request	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	brazil jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
36-0 Court Order Granting Plaintiffs Request	36-0 Court Order Granting Plaintiffs Request	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
37-0 Watch Tower Letter to Court	37-0 Watch Tower Letter to Court	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
38-0 Governing Body Letter to Court RE Amended Complaint	Governing Body Letter to Court Opposing Plaintiff’s Request to file Amended Complaint	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
39-0 Court Denied Filing of Amended Complaint	39-0 Court Denied Filing of Amended Complaint	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
28-0 Plaintiffs Response to Defendants Request for Pre Motion Conference	Plaintiffs Response to Defendants Request for Pre Motion Conference	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
29-0 Court Sets Schedule for Motions to Dismiss and Opposition Responses	29-0 Court Sets Schedule for Motions to Dismiss and Opposition Responses	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
30-0 Notice of Appearance of Jeffrey W Gasbarro for Watchtower New York	Notice of Appearance of Jeffrey W Gasbarro for Watchtower New York	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
31-0 Watchtower New York Request for Pre Motion Conference	Watchtower New York Request for Pre Motion Conference	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
32-0 Court Order on Watchtower Request for Pre Motion Conference	Court Order on Watchtower Request for Pre Motion Conference	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
33-0 File Excess Pages	33-0 File Excess Pages	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
34-0 Governing Body Attorney Letter	Governing Body Attorney Letter	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza
35-0 Watchtower PA and New York Letter	Watchtower PA and New York Letter	Preview Document	new-york-international civil-lawsuits-united-states	jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse stella-cristina-gomes-de-souza