Lawsuit dropped against church

A SUPERIOR Court judge in Orange County, Calif., dismissed a lawsuit on Tuesday that had been brought by Gayle Quigley against the Christian Science Church and several Christian Scientists in a civil case involving the 1992 death of her son, Andrew Wantland.

Judge Richard Luesebrink ruled that the plaintiff had no claims against The First Church of Christ, Scientist; a Christian Science practitioner, visiting nurse service, and nurse, and the Christian Science Committee on Publication for Southern California. But he let stand claims against James Wantland, Mrs. Quigley's ex-husband and the boy's father, and the boy's grandmother, Ruth Wantland.

Quigley is seeking damages for what she claims is the wrongful death of her son, who died of what was diagnosed as diabetes while under Christian Science treatment through prayer.

The Christian Science Church is appealing a ruling in a similar case in Minnesota, in which a trial judge let stand a jury's award of more than $10 million in punitive and compensatory damages.