51-0 Notice of Plaintiffs Motion for Reconsideration
May 18th, 2026
51-0 Notice of Plaintiff’s Motion for Reconsideration:
“PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that upon the Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Reconsideration, and upon all papers and proceedings had herein, Plaintiff, by and through her undersigned counsel, shall move this Court, before the Honorable Nelson Stephen Román, United States District Judge, on a date and at a time to be designated by the Court, at the United States District Courthouse for the Southern District of New York, located at 300 Quarropas Street, White Plains, New York 10601, pursuant to Local Civil Rule 6.3 of the Local Rules of the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, for an Order: (i) reconsidering the Court’s May 4, 2026 Order (Dkt. No. 50) staying this action pending resolution by the New York Court of Appeals of the question certified to it by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Parker v. Alexander, 2026 U.S. App. LEXIS 8479 (Mar. 23, 2026); and (ii) together with such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.”
Case numbers:
1:25-cv-09458
7:25-cv-09458-NSR
Public Access on CourtListener: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71905206/gomes-de-souza-v-watchtower-bible-and-tract-society-of-pennsylvania-inc/
Case Summary:
Plaintiff Stella Cristina Gomes de Souza brings a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, Inc., Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., and The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses (collectively, “Defendants”). The complaint alleges that, beginning in 2011, when Ms. Souza was 12 years old and living in Brazil, she was repeatedly raped and sexually abused by Angelo Roviezzo, a senior minister (Circuit Overseer) within the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The abuse continued for nearly a year, resulting in pregnancy and miscarriage, and was compounded by a subsequent incident of sexual exploitation by another congregation member.
The complaint asserts that Defendants, through a centralized and hierarchical structure based in New York, not only failed to protect Ms. Souza but also actively concealed the abuse. Despite multiple reports and evidence, Defendants allegedly silenced the victim, punished her, and transferred the abuser rather than alerting authorities. Internal policies discouraged reporting child sexual abuse to law enforcement and prioritized institutional reputation over child safety.
The complaint details the profound and lasting physical and psychological harm suffered by Ms. Souza, including infertility, PTSD, and major depressive disorder. It brings claims for negligent supervision, gross negligence, vicarious liability, sexual assault, sexual battery, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The Plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages of at least $100 million, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs, and demands a jury trial.
