Un jury du Montana a accordé 35 millions de dollars (dont 31 millions de dommages-intérêts punitifs) à une femme victime d'abus après que des anciens eurent traité en interne un signalement antérieur concernant le même homme ; en janvier 2020, la Cour suprême du Montana a infirmé ce jugement, estimant que les anciens étaient dispensés de l'obligation de signalement parce que leur doctrine exigeait que ces communications restent confidentielles.

Montana Supreme Court, “Nunez v. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 2020 MT 8 (DA 19-0077)”

8 janvier 2020 · paras 25, 33 · Montana Supreme Court (opinion text via FindLaw)

“A member of the clergy or a priest is not required to make a report under this section if the communication is required to be confidential by canon law, church doctrine, or established church practice.”

Montana Code Annotated s. 41-3-201(6)(c), as quoted. The court held (para 33) that 'undisputed material facts in the summary judgment record demonstrate as a matter of law that Jehovah's Witnesses were not mandatory reporters' because their doctrine required confidentiality, reversing a Sanders County jury verdict of $4 million compensatory and $31 million punitive damages ($35 million) for Alexis Nunez and directing judgment for the defendants. Elders of the Thompson Falls congregation had received reports in 2004 about a member and disfellowshipped, then reinstated, him without informing authorities.

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