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Woman settles lawsuit involving church, pastor
June 27, 2006
By KATY GAGNON
H&N Staff Writer
A lawsuit alleging a local pastor initiated inappropriate sexual relations with a disabled woman was settled out of court.
Barbara Jo Stacey, a student at the Oregon Institute of Technology, filed the lawsuit in Lane County last August, alleging associate pastor Roger Stevens of Bible Baptist Church Ministries used his position as a counselor to initiate inappropriate sexual relations with Stacey as she recovered from injuries after a car accident.
Stacey filed the civil suit after authorities determined there wasn't enough evidence to file criminal charges against Stevens.
The civil suit claimed Stevens used his relationship as a counselor to engage in multiple acts of sexual relations with Stacey from the summer of 2001 to September 2003.
The suit also claimed BBC Ministries was negligent because it either knew or should have known that Stevens “engaged in inappropriate intimate contact with other young women” prior to Stacey.
Stacey sought up to $1 million in punitive damages and $50,000 in economic damages.
Her attorney, Derek Johnson of Eugene, would not release details of the settlement. BBC Senior Pastor Ben Brown and Stevens could not be reached Monday for comment.
In a mediation presided over by retired Jackson County Judge Mitch Karaman, the parties reached a settlement in October and details of the settlement were finalized this month.
“I'm glad to put this episode behind me,” Stacey stated in a press release. “And if by standing up for justice I have prevented even one other vulnerable young woman from feeling the hurt that I did, it will all be worth it.”
Stacey first met Stevens in 1999, when she became involved in the college group at BBC Ministries.
In November 2000, she suffered serious injuries in a car accident, leaving her significantly mentally and physically impaired, the suit states.
According to a press release from Stacey's attorney, Stacey suffered traumatic brain injury, a fractured pelvis, broken ribs and dislocation of her right hip.
The suit claimed Stevens invited Stacey to live in his home as she recovered, assuming the role of Stacey's daily caretaker, handling her financial affairs and administering medication. Stacey sought up to $1 million in punitive damages and $50,000 in economic damages.
Her attorney, Derek Johnson of Eugene, would not release details of the settlement. BBC Senior Pastor Ben Brown and Stevens could not be reached Monday for comment.
In a mediation presided over by retired Jackson County Judge Mitch Karaman, the parties reached a settlement in October and details of the settlement were finalized this month.
“I'm glad to put this episode behind me,” Stacey stated in a press release. “And if by standing up for justice I have prevented even one other vulnerable young woman from feeling the hurt that I did, it will all be worth it.”
Met in college group
Stacey first met Stevens in 1999, when she became involved in the college group at BBC Ministries.
In November 2000, she suffered serious injuries in a car accident, leaving her significantly mentally and physically impaired, the suit states.
According to a press release from Stacey's attorney, Stacey suffered traumatic brain injury, a fractured pelvis, broken ribs and dislocation of her right hip.
The suit claimed Stevens invited Stacey to live in his home as she recovered, assuming the role of Stacey's daily caretaker, handling her financial affairs and administering medication.
By KATY GAGNON
H&N Staff Writer
A lawsuit alleging a local pastor initiated inappropriate sexual relations with a disabled woman was settled out of court.
Barbara Jo Stacey, a student at the Oregon Institute of Technology, filed the lawsuit in Lane County last August, alleging associate pastor Roger Stevens of Bible Baptist Church Ministries used his position as a counselor to initiate inappropriate sexual relations with Stacey as she recovered from injuries after a car accident.
Stacey filed the civil suit after authorities determined there wasn't enough evidence to file criminal charges against Stevens.
The civil suit claimed Stevens used his relationship as a counselor to engage in multiple acts of sexual relations with Stacey from the summer of 2001 to September 2003.
The suit also claimed BBC Ministries was negligent because it either knew or should have known that Stevens “engaged in inappropriate intimate contact with other young women” prior to Stacey.
Stacey sought up to $1 million in punitive damages and $50,000 in economic damages.
Her attorney, Derek Johnson of Eugene, would not release details of the settlement. BBC Senior Pastor Ben Brown and Stevens could not be reached Monday for comment.
In a mediation presided over by retired Jackson County Judge Mitch Karaman, the parties reached a settlement in October and details of the settlement were finalized this month.
“I'm glad to put this episode behind me,” Stacey stated in a press release. “And if by standing up for justice I have prevented even one other vulnerable young woman from feeling the hurt that I did, it will all be worth it.”
Stacey first met Stevens in 1999, when she became involved in the college group at BBC Ministries.
In November 2000, she suffered serious injuries in a car accident, leaving her significantly mentally and physically impaired, the suit states.
According to a press release from Stacey's attorney, Stacey suffered traumatic brain injury, a fractured pelvis, broken ribs and dislocation of her right hip.
The suit claimed Stevens invited Stacey to live in his home as she recovered, assuming the role of Stacey's daily caretaker, handling her financial affairs and administering medication. Stacey sought up to $1 million in punitive damages and $50,000 in economic damages.
Her attorney, Derek Johnson of Eugene, would not release details of the settlement. BBC Senior Pastor Ben Brown and Stevens could not be reached Monday for comment.
In a mediation presided over by retired Jackson County Judge Mitch Karaman, the parties reached a settlement in October and details of the settlement were finalized this month.
“I'm glad to put this episode behind me,” Stacey stated in a press release. “And if by standing up for justice I have prevented even one other vulnerable young woman from feeling the hurt that I did, it will all be worth it.”
Met in college group
Stacey first met Stevens in 1999, when she became involved in the college group at BBC Ministries.
In November 2000, she suffered serious injuries in a car accident, leaving her significantly mentally and physically impaired, the suit states.
According to a press release from Stacey's attorney, Stacey suffered traumatic brain injury, a fractured pelvis, broken ribs and dislocation of her right hip.
The suit claimed Stevens invited Stacey to live in his home as she recovered, assuming the role of Stacey's daily caretaker, handling her financial affairs and administering medication.
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