Women in Satanism Case Ask for New Trial

Two women who were denied damages after they won a jury verdict against their 76-year-old mother, claiming she sexually abused and tortured them from infancy, said they will seek a new trial.

Court papers, filed Wednesday by attorney R. Richard Farnell on behalf of the daughters and an 11-year-old granddaughter, also asked that in lieu of a trial, the court award damages that were denied by the jury.

The attorney for the silver-haired Mission Viejo grandmother, known during the trial as “Ellen Roe,” said Thursday there is “no basis” for a new trial.

During a 13-day trial in April, the daughters--now 48 and 35--and the granddaughter accused Roe of rape, incest, torture, druggings and of forcing them into child prostitution. They said that as part of satanic rituals, Roe, her late husband and other cult members forced the daughters to kill their own babies, assist in other murders and consume human body parts.

But Roe’s lawyer, Tom M. Allen, argued that the daughters, who were identified only by their initials in the lawsuit, were coached into “remembering” events that never took place. The daughters, he said, had produced almost no physical or material evidence to prove their case.

By a 10-2 vote, jurors ruled in favor of the daughters and the granddaughter, finding that Roe had been negligent. But they said they did not believe that Roe had intentionally caused any harm, and refused to award the daughters damages.

Court papers filed this week on behalf of the daughters state that “inadequate damages appear to have been awarded” and that the evidence was “insufficient to justify the verdict.” The notice to seek a new trial also claimed jury misconduct, but did not elaborate.

Farnell was unavailable for comment Thursday.

Allen, however, said the practical legal effect of the jury’s compromise verdict was to rule in favor of Roe.

Allen also said he has filed a separate motion with the court asking that Roe be “declared the prevailing party so that she can recover (court) costs.”

A hearing on the motion for a new trial is set for June 18.