Court dismisses lawsuit against counselor accused of proposing bed-sharing with client
Polk County Court has rejected a lawsuit accusing a religious counselor of inappropriately sexually propositioning a female client.
The woman, whom the Register has not identified as an alleged victim of sexual misconduct, claimed she sought "spiritual direction" from Asa Crow. Over several sessions, she alleged that Crow made intrusive comments about sexual health and suggested sharing a bed while undressed or sitting in each other's laps as possible "spiritual direction" practices.
The woman described Crow as a minister at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines. The church has disputed that Crow was an employee or minister, saying he worked through his own private agency.
She also claimed Crow had left previous church placements because of allegations of sex abuse.
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The lawsuit accused Crow and his agency of negligence and intentionally inflicting emotional distress, and accused the church of negligent hiring and supervision. Both denied wrongdoing, and Crow filed counterclaims for defamation.
Court rules for defendants
On May 9, Judge Scott Rosenberg granted the defendants' motions for summary judgment.
The plaintiff accused Crow of "outrageous" conduct, but failed to identify or offer expert testimony as to what the proper standard of behavior for spiritual directors should be, Rosenberg wrote. While their conversations did touch on sexual topics, he noted such issues may be valid topics for counseling, and that the plaintiff could not show where Crow allegedly crossed the line.
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The judge also ruled the woman's reported symptoms of emotional distress fall short of what is needed to support her legal claim. As for the church, Rosenberg ruled that since the plaintiff failed to prove her case against Crow, she could not show the church was negligent in its relationship with him.
Following the ruling, Crow filed to dismiss his counterclaims.
The plaintiff declined to comment on the court's decision. An attorney for Crow also declined to comment.
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa spiritual director sex misconduct lawsuit dismissed by court
