Pope, Vatican Officials Targeted in New Suit by U.S. Sex Abuse Victims

Here's an interesting article related to the definition of a business and jurisdiction. In the recent sex abuse scandal involving the Catholic church, plaintiffs are seeking to force the Vatican to open wconfidential files that contain details of priest abuse allegations and monetary settlements. Unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial are also sought.

Under a tort exception, the attorneys plan to argue that because the Catholic Church allegedly engaged in systematic activity that injured a large number of people in the United States, it subjected itself to the jurisdiction of the United States and can be held liable here.

Further, under a commercial activity exception, attorneys plan to argue that the Catholic Church is a massive business organization, commercially present in the United States, and therefore not immune from litigation.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Pope-Vatican-Officials-law-3057297817.html?x=0&.v=1