Opinion ID: 2336330
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standard of Review and Claims Asserted

Text: [¶ 8] In reviewing the trial court's dismissal of a complaint, we examine the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff to determine whether it sets forth elements of a cause of action or alleges facts that would entitle the plaintiff to relief pursuant to a valid cause of action. McAfee, 637 A.2d at 465, quoted in Hamilton v. Greenleaf, 677 A.2d 525, 527 (Me.1996). The legal sufficiency of a complaint challenged pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) is a question of law. Hamilton, 677 A.2d at 527. [¶ 9] Before examining the claims asserted by Bryan, it is instructive to address those claims that he does not assert. He does not allege that Baker was an agent or employee of the church. Nor does he claim that Baker occupied any clerical position such as priest, minister, or pastor. Cf. Swanson, 1997 ME 63, ¶ 13, 692 A.2d at 445. [2] Moreover, the complaint does not allege that the church affirmatively placed Baker in a position of control and supervision of children, such as a Sunday school teacher or youth coordinator, or that the church knowingly placed Baker in a position where he could sexually abuse children within a church setting. Rather, Bryan alleges that Baker was able to earn [Bryan's] trust and confidence because of his position of power and authority in the church. [3] These allegations place Baker in a relationship to Bryan that was not different in quality from any other member in good standing of the church. [¶ 10] The crux of Bryan's claim is that the church, because of an alleged special relationship with its members, has a duty to protect its members from each other, at least when the church and its agents are aware of a potential danger posed by a member. Because the church elders knew of Baker's propensity to abuse children, Bryan argues that they had an independent duty to protect him from Baker. [4] He addresses that duty through three separate counts. We address each count in turn.