Local News in Brief : Parents to Pursue Suit Against Church

A Tujunga couple said Friday they will continue their 9 1/2-year legal battle against a Sun Valley church despite a rejection of their claim by the state Supreme Court.

Walter and Maria Nally have sued the church for “clergy malpractice” in the 1979 suicide of their son.

At a news conference the couple said they will decide in the next three weeks whether to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their suit against Grace Community Church or to ask a federal court to overrule the state court.

The family said church counselors who were providing Kenneth Nally, 24, with spiritual counseling should be held liable for his suicide. The Nallys had claimed that four pastoral counselors at Grace Community were negligent in failing to refer their depressed son to licensed therapists. They said the counselors told Kenneth Nally that he would “be accepted into heaven” if he committed suicide.

But the state Supreme Court ruled Nov. 27 that church pastors could not be held responsible.

The court ruled that church counselors and others who are not licensed therapists have no legal duty to refer a person to mental-health professionals even if they believe the person is suicidal.