Lawsuit blames counselor for ruining former Albany man'slife
The attorney for a Lebanon grass seed farmer accused in alawsuit of implanting false memories during family counselingsessions has filed a response saying his client denies theallegations.
Ohio resident Stephan Skotko, formerly of Albany, filed the suitlast August in Linn County Circuit Court against Marion Knox ofLebanon and his wife, Doris.
An amended version of the suit has been filed, increasing theclaim for relief from $1 million to $1.5 million, plus courtcosts.
Skotko said he and his wife sought family counseling about eightyears ago with Marion Knox, who was known for working spirituallywith people with personal problems. He claims Knox's counseling ledSkotko's wife, who has since divorced him, to file false charges ofchild abuse against him.
Skotko is seeking $500,000 for each of three claims " one claimof negligence, one claim of negligent infliction of emotionaldistress and one of intentional infliction of emotional distress "to cover economic losses from damage to his business interests,loss of his home and the court costs from a Department of HumanServices action prompted by the charges.
Skotko is represented by Dan Armstrong of Corvallis. The Knoxesare represented by Michael Long of Eugene.
According to the suit, Marion Knox, while not a licensedtherapist or an ordained minister, nevertheless counseled manyindividuals, couples and families. He told Skotko and his wife andteenage children that their problems "were largely a result of analsodomy and evil spirits instilled by anal sodomy."
Both Marion and Doris Knox told police officers that Skotko hadadmitted to sexually molesting his children and that the childrenhad revealed during a "deliverance" session that they had beensodomized by him, according to the complaint.
"Defendants had no reasonable basis for those statements andthey were untrue," the suit states.
Both the Knoxes and their lawyer have refused to comment on thecase outside of the legal process.
In a response filed this week, Long said the couple acknowledgethat the Skotkos came to them seeking "spiritual guidance" and thatMarion Knox provided similar guidance to others over the years.
The response acknowledges that Marion Knox "personally believesthat the majority of people have been anally sodomized at an earlyage" and that he discussed that opinion with the Skotkos. However,according to the response, the Knoxes deny counseling the Skotkosthat they had been victims of sodomy, and they further deny thatthey ever told anyone, including police, that Skotko had admittedto sexually molesting his children.
"Defendants deny that they made any allegations againstplaintiff or that they had anything to do with the sexual abusecharges having been brought against plaintiff," the responsereads.
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