Appeals court rules parents can sue over sex-abuse case

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP (AP) -- A federal appeals court has ruled that a couple can sue Oakland County prosecutors, who had claimed the father sexually assaulted his severely autistic daughter. The U.S. Court of Appeals said Wednesday that a lawsuit brought by Julian and Thal Wendrow of West Bloomfield Township can proceed to trial. The criminal case was developed through a controversial way of communicating in which messages are typed on a keyboard with an adult's help. Charged were dropped in 2008. The Detroit Free Press says some of the messages typed in 2007 included allegations that Julian Wendrow repeatedly raped his daughter since age 6 and that Thal Wendrow was aware but didn't stop the attacks. Oakland County Corporation Counsel Keith Lerminiaux says county officials are disappointed by the appeals court's ruling. Published: Fri, Aug 30, 2013