The Texas Supreme Court has appeared to clear the way for a libel lawsuit against the Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary and its former president, Paige Patterson, to proceed.
The federal case, filed by a plaintiff identified as Jane Doe, centers on Patterson’s handling of her claims that she was raped by another student. Patterson was later fired from the seminary.
Attorney Shiela Haddock said that although Patterson did not personally make the allegedly defamatory statements, he provided them to someone who included them in a fundraising letter.
The Texas Supreme Court ruled that Patterson could be held liable for the statements and sent its opinion to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is deciding whether the case will move forward.
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