Tuesday, December 7, 1999
Jane Doe v. William Dunbar Evans III

No. 94,450

Lake Worth


Doe was a parishioner at the Church of the Holy Redeemer, an Episcopal church in Lake Worth. She later began counseling with a minister, Evans, that allegedly turned into a romantic involvement. Later, Doe said she was held up to public ridicule because of this affair. She sued Evans and officials of the Episcopal Diocese of South Florida. The trial judge dismissed the claims against the officials on First Amendment religious freedom grounds. The Fourth District affirmed. On appeal, friend of the court briefs have been filed by other major religious organizations including the Florida Catholic Conference.