Settlement efforts underway in HIV case
Settlement efforts continue in the case of “Bonnie Jones,” an HIV-positive woman who claims she was denied access to a therapeutic swimming pool due to her serostatus.
In June, Jones filed suit against OSS Orthopaedic Hospital, Drayer Physical Therapy Institute and a physical therapist after allegedly being denied access to the hospital’s therapeutic pool.
The hospital is located in York.
In February, an attorney for Drayer notified U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane that a tentative settlement was reached. However, both sides recently requested more time to finalize a settlement.
On April 17, Kane issued an order stating that the parties have until May 14 to request reinstatement of the case if a settlement cannot be finalized.
Coach’s lawsuit against Archdiocese settled
John P. Duffy’s lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia recently was settled, according to court records. The case had been scheduled for a June trial, prior to the settlement.
In 2015, Duffy, a former baseball coach at Pope John Paul 2d High School, filed a $5-million lawsuit. Duffy claimed he couldn’t find another coaching job after Archdiocese officials allegedly insinuated that he engaged in unspecified criminal behavior.
The suit, filed in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, accused several Archdiocese officials of defamation, civil conspiracy and other wrongdoing.
The high school is located in Royersford, and Duffy served as its head baseball coach from January-November 2014.
Duffy contended that after his contract wasn’t renewed, Archdiocese officials insinuated to numerous parents that he had a criminal past. Duffy doesn’t have a criminal past, yet officials conveyed to parents that he engaged in unspecified “heinous” and “untoward” conduct, according to court records.
In defense papers, Archdiocese officials denied any wrongdoing.
Terms of the settlement weren’t available. Neither side had a comment for this update.
— Timothy Cwiek