A Harrison County judge has dismissed a lawsuit that accused former Catholic Bishop Joseph Lawson Howze of sexual misconduct.

The lawsuit was filed by a man identified only as John Doe 1. He claimed Howze touched him inappropriately in 2007 while Howze sat with him as he was administered a prescription medication used to treat the man for drug addiction.

The man sought unspecified damages. The judge also dismissed claims the man filed against the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, former Bishop Thomas J. Rodi and the Roman Catholic Church.

The 84-year-old Howze retired from the diocese in 2001.