Comp Court Asked to Decide Jurisdiction Over Child Abuse Allegations

A New York trial court agreed with publisher Gannett Co. that a workers’ compensation judge should determine whether exclusivity prohibits lawsuits alleging a supervisor molested and sexually assaulted children delivering newspapers 40 years ago. Richard Bates said he delivered papers for the Democrat and Chronicle in 1982 and 1983 when he was 11 and 12 years old. He alleges as part of the job, he had to meet with Jack Lazeroff, a district manager supervising delivery routes. Bates alleges Lazeroff sexually assaulted him during these meetings. Bates claimed the Rochester newspaper and ...