N. Idaho Case Alleging Priest Abuse Dismissed

January 9, 2009

Attorneys for a northern Idaho woman who filed a lawsuit claiming she was raped by a Catholic Jesuit priest when she was 7-years-old have filed a motion to dismiss the case.

Kim “Mia” Sonneck, who is now 41, filed the lawsuit in 2nd District Court in October 2008.

Sonneck alleged the Rev. A.J. Ferreti started abusing her around 1973, when he served as a priest in and around Lapwai. Ferreti died on June 29, 1982, according to the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province.

In her lawsuit, Sonneck said she never told anyone about the abuse and she repressed the memories until last year. She said she decided to speak out as part of a healing process.

Coeur d’Alene attorney Leander James and Boise attorney Andrew Chasan represented Sonneck in the lawsuit and recently filed a motion to voluntary dismiss the case. They did not give a reason in their motion.

James and Chasan did not immediately return phone calls from the Lewiston Tribune.