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PENNSYLVANIA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Volunteer files defamation suit against Diocese of Pittsburgh over allegedly false grooming report

State Court
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PITTSBURGH – A Bridgeville man who served as a volunteer religious education instructor alleges he was dismissed from his position because of a false report that he was grooming a minor child.

According to the Sept. 19 filing in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, plaintiff Gary Toney filed suit against defendants The Diocese of Pittsburgh, The Bridgeville-Cecil Catholic Church Grouping and Pamela Fantoni, alleging defamation, intentional tortious interference with relations and prospective relations, false light, intentional infliction of emotional distress and interference with prospective employment relations. 

The suit states the plaintiff was a volunteer at the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine teacher at Holy Child Church in The Bridgeville-Cecil Catholic Church Grouping and that Fantoni accompanied a minor student for transportation purposes to and from classes and church services. The suit states Fantoni is not a legal guardian of the child.

According to the complaint, Fantoni falsely accused and reported Toney to the church in April over the alleged grooming of a child and implying he was engaging in abuse. The parish dismissed him from his volunteer position, despite his claims the accusations were false, he alleges. 

The suit states the false report was never made with the Child Abuse Reporting Hotline or to an agency.

"Upon information and belief, defendant Fantoni has grievously fractured plaintiff's standing in his church and social community by destroying plaintiff's professional and personal reputation with employees, representatives, volunteers and parishioners within the parish," the suit states.

Toney seeks damages in excess of the arbitration limits along with interests and costs.

The plaintiff is represented by Kenneth Hardin II and Alexander Poorman of Hardin Thompson in Pittsburgh. 

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