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(Salt Lake City-AP) -- The question of whether victims of sexual abuse should be allowed to sue businesses such as foster care placement agencies and day care centers is the subject of an appeal before the Utah Supreme Court.
Although victims have been able to file civil lawsuits against their abusers, that same right has been denied them when it comes to businesses.
A statute limits the right to lawsuits against "living persons."
But Jake and Jana Savage of Murray are contesting that statute because of what happened to them. They say a 15-year-old foster child an agency had placed in their home ended up abusing their three-year-old son. The agency, they say, never informed them the teen had a prior history of similar abuse. The agency denies this charge.
The original lawsuit was dismissed before going to trial. The Utah Supreme Court will issue a ruling on the appeal at a later date.
(APcredit: Salt Lake Tribune)
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
