For the entirety of last week, the trial and conviction of former First United Methodist Church pastor Paige Williams and its daycare director Abby Leach often brought attention to a pending civil suit still awaiting movement in the courts.
Williams’ defense attorney Bill Deatherage consistently made reference to it — one seeking punitive damages against FUMC, as well as the Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Incorporated, and the Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Pennyrile District Incorporated.
In his closing arguments last Friday, he said he felt like the criminal case was only sought by parents to give more credence to a potential civil reward.
First filed in March 2021, the News Edge has learned this civil suit has twice since been amended, and was last re-filed with changes in Christian County Circuit Court on September 26, 2022.
Its plaintiffs: Kayce Toms and Dalton Castile, Travis and Laura Faulkner, Matt and Katie Hanning, Dave and Angela Herndon, Allen and Shea Martin, Savannah Young and Emily Marlar.
The suit claims that upon information and belief, the conference of defendants had a “duty, under statutory, regulatory and common law, to properly hire, train and supervise the activities of its employees, managers, agents and/or servants, including but not limited to Williams. And for reasons, those duties were “breached,” causing injury to minors.
FUMC and its umbrella were “entrusted” to care for these people, including Leach, Williams and the now-convicted Allison Simpson and Nina Morgan. As daycare attendees, they were “under a duty,” and represented “safe, reasonable and appropriate care.”
In his closing arguments last Friday, Leach’s defense attorney David Bundrick implied that just a civil or criminal suit of the church corporation would’ve been more appropriate than criminally charging his client and Williams.
Per this civil suit, a “direct result” of the negligence, gross negligence, wantonness and/or neglect and abuse led to physical and mental abuse, causing “injury, pain, suffering, extreme anguish and distress.”
The suit points to ongoing and complete litigation in three trials: one against Simpson, one against Morgan and this week’s examination of Leach and Williams, which could provide precedent in this matter.
But the suit also points out that following the investigation of these allegations, more occurred in the summer of 2019. The daycare was allowed to reopen, with Cindy Dougherty replacing Leach as its new director.
On, or about, June 20, 2019, Dougherty allegedly tapped a child in the mouth with an envelope when he or she “would not be quiet,” and disciplined two children in the Little Chapel — a room without surveillance video and not approved for childcare activities. The suit claims Dougherty “made them kneel on the ground, in front of a chair, while placing her foot on the back of their legs.”
A child was “flicked on the back of the ear” for being non-compliant, and the daycare’s license was again suspended after being cited for deficiencies from a June 24, 2019 investigation by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
In his closing arguments last Friday, special prosecutor Blake Chambers said several people had testified in the criminal case against Leach and Williams to discuss organizational leadership — with absolutely zero ties to any money in the pending civil trial.
The plaintiffs are asserting a claim for judgment for all compensatory and punitive damages against the defendants — including, but not limited to, medical expenses and other related costs, as well as any other related costs for pain, suffering, emotional distress and mental anguish in an amount to be determined by a jury.
