
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 21, 1994                   TAG: 9404210215
SECTION: NATIONAL/INT                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LAS VEGAS                                LENGTH: Short

SOME TAILHOOK CLAIMS FACING NAVY DISMISSED

A federal judge dismissed most of the claims against the Navy contained in a lawsuit by five women who said they were sexually assaulted at the 1991 Tailhook convention.

For the most part the women did not have the legal standing to sue the Navy, U.S. District Judge Philip Pro said in his ruling Tuesday. But he did not dismiss the women's claims against the Las Vegas Hilton, where the convention took place, or the Tailhook organization of current and retired Navy aviators.

Pro also said the women could pursue their allegations that the Navy failed to protect them from being groped and fondled by drunken aviators.

Those filing the lawsuit were Suzanne Hallett of San Diego; Lisa C. Reagan and Marie Weston of Sacramento, Calif.; Judy Mas of Los Angeles; and Rhonda Rama, whose hometown was not available.

The woman who blew the whistle on the scandal, former Navy Lt. Paula Coughlin, is not suing the Navy but is pursuing a separate lawsuit against the Tailhook group and the Hilton. Her lawsuit is scheduled for trial this summer.

The five women contend in their lawsuit that the Navy ``intentionally attempted to cover up the actions of conventioneers.'' They sought unspecified damages on charges of sexual assault and battery, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and punitive damages.

Pro ruled that people cannot sue the federal government for sexual assault or seek punitive damages from it under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

by CNB