A judge must review the penalty, and the Jehovah's Witnesses' national organization — Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York — plans to appeal. The Office of Public Information at the World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses responded to the verdict with an unsigned statement. "Jehovah's Witnesses abhor child abuse and strive to protect children from such acts. The Montana case is one of dozens that have been filed nationwide over the past decade alleging Jehovah's Witnesses mismanaged or covered up the sexual abuse of children. The lawsuit claimed the local and national Jehovah's Witnesses organizations were negligent and violated a Montana law that requires them to report abuse to outside authorities.

Source: Fox News September 27, 2018 17:20 UTC