Parents settle with accuser

The parents of a Costa Mesa man accused of a molesting a boy in the 1990s have settled a civil lawsuit brought by the accuser.

Pamela Summers and Roger Summers, parents of Todd Summers, were dismissed last month from the unnamed accuser’s suit against the family and the Mormon church. The suit claims that they all had a part in the boy’s sexual abuse over 10 years, starting in 1990.

The parents’ settlement with the accuser narrows the suit to only Todd Summers; a judge threw out the claims against the Mormon church earlier this year. Summers is a local videographer whose clients have included local children’s clubs and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

According to the suit filed in court last year, Summers abused a boy seven years his junior while the two attended a Mormon church in Costa Mesa. The suit alleges that because of Summers’ behavior, church officials should have been aware of the alleged abuse. The accuser had also claimed that Summers abused him in Summers’ parents home and that his parents should’ve been aware of it and stopped it.

Police never arrested or charged Summers in relation to the allegations.

Court documents show that Vince Finaldi, attorney for the accuser, who is referred to as John Doe, filed motions to dismiss the parents from the suit on Nov. 25 after the settlement. Finaldi’s client has also settled with the Summers’ business.

Earlier this year, a judge threw out the claims against the Mormon church. Finaldi has since appealed that ruling.

The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial early next year, but will likely get postponed pending the result of Finaldi’s appeal on the church’s involvement.

Pamela Summers said the case is “bogus.” Finaldi declined comment.