Ohio Court: Insurer not Liable for $1M in Megachurch Abuse Lawsuit

The Ohio Supreme Court says an insurer isn’t liable for part of a central Ohio megachurch’s $3.1 million settlement over the alleged beating of a 2-year-old boy at the church’s daycare.

The justices concluded that an appeals court wrongly found an insurer responsible for paying $1 million of the judgment awarded to the child’s parents. They alleged an employee at World Harvest Church in Canal Winchester beat the boy with a ruler.

Grange Mutual Casualty Co. argued it isn’t responsible for paying the judgment because a clause in its policy with the church excluded coverage for acts of abuse or molestation. Grange had denied the insurance claim after the judgment, and the church sought reimbursement for the settlement.

A message seeking comment was left for the church’s attorney.