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BATON ROUGE, LA: St. James church files civil lawsuit to recover funds
By ADRIAN ANGELETTE
Advocate staff writer
BATON ROUGE, LA (7/26/2005)--St. James Episcopal Church is suing its former controller to try to recover more than $723,000 the church claims he took over the past seven years.
The lawsuit filed Monday is the latest in the mounting problems for Clarke Van Sickle, who resigned as controller in March.
The church claims in the lawsuit to have learned recently about the missing money.
"In June 2005, (St. James Episcopal) learned that on various occasions during the period of his employment, (Van Sickle) converted funds belonging to St. James Episcopal Church to his personal use," the lawsuit says. "The loss identified is in the amount of $723, 031.54, none of which has been repaid.
"(Van Sickle) is liable ... for the full amount of this loss," the lawsuit says.
In addition to seeking to recover the money, the church also is seeking any possible loss of interest. The church also retains the right to go after more money if more losses are found.
Van Sickle's attorney, Tommy D'Amico, said his client has been in contact with authorities.
"Mr. Van Sickle is working with authorities and trying to do what is right," D'Amico said Monday.
D'Amico declined further comment because of the pending legal matter.
According to the lawsuit, Van Sickle began diverting funds to personal accounts in December 1998. The lawsuit says that ended in March, when he left the church.
The Rev. J. Mark Holland said last week that Van Sickle planned to make restitution. On Monday, Holland said that filing the lawsuit does not mean negotiations with Van Sickle have broken down.
"It's just part of the normal legal process for recovering assets," Holland said.
Van Sickle has taken responsibility for his actions, Holland has said, and admitted taking $2,900 in church money in late March or early April. Van Sickle promptly resigned after admitting he took the money, he said.
Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman Sgt. Don Kelly said Monday that the investigation is continuing and no criminal charges have been filed.
Holland said Monday that he plans to meet with parishioners about the matter at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at Bishops' Hall, on Fourth and Florida streets.
St. James Episcopal first informed its parishioners about problems with Van Sickle in the July 1 issue of "The Messenger," a church newsletter. The letter said the amount was at least $100,000. Church attorneys made a formal complaint with the Baton Rouge Police Department on Thursday, which prompted an investigation, Kelly said.
Church officials have maintained that the church remains in solid financial shape despite the missing $723,000. Holland has said that the operations of the church and the affiliated day school would be unaffected by the theft.
The lawsuit has been assigned to state District Judge Michael Caldwell. No hearing dates have been set.
David Jacobs contributed to this report.
