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Draft Inc. is backing one of its top executives, who has been named in a sexual abuse lawsuit stemming from an alleged relationship that took place more than 30 years ago.

Laurence Boschetto, who was recently promoted to president and COO of the direct response agency, is a defendant in a suit that also names several individuals and organizations in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.

The plaintiff, Rev. Robert M. Hoatson, alleges that a four-year relationship during the 1970s between himself and Boschetto constituted sexual abuse. Both were adults studying at the Congregation of Christian Brothers when the alleged relationship took place, according to court papers. Hoatson is now a Newark Archdiocesan priest, the papers state.

Boschetto does not appear to be the main focus of the action, which alleges systematic abuse on the part of numerous individuals in the church.

As of Thursday evening, Boschetto had not been served with the complaint, according to his private attorney, Marc Kasowitz.

“This is an absolutely baseless complaint against Mr. Boschetto, and if that complaint is ever served against him, it will be summarily dismissed,” Kasowitz said. “He is clearly being targeted by someone who is desperate and illogical, as a way to bring attention to this frivolous lawsuit.”

Draft Inc. said in a statement that “the claims made in the lawsuit are completely false, and Laurence is taking the necessary steps to defend his good name. While a nuisance, the suit is not distracting him from his job.”

It added: “Draft as an agency stands completely behind Laurence and is giving him our full support.”

In addition to Boschetto, Hoatson’s suit names the New York Archdiocese; Cardinal Edward Egan of New York; the Newark Archdiocese; Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark; the Congregation of Christian Brothers; Father John O’Brien; Brother Paul Kevin Hennessy; the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany; and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, NY.

Church spokespersons called the allegations “patently untrue,” and stated that Hoatson is on administrative leave, according to the Village Voice.

Hoatson’s attorney, John J. Aretakis, has represented more than 200 plaintiffs in sexual abuse cases involving clergy during the last decade.

Despite Boschetto’s having been named as a defendant, he is not mentioned in the nine causes of action, the specific legal claims for which a plaintiff seeks compensation, that follow the allegations of abuse.

But Aretakis said this absence was “just a pleading flaw. It doesn’t matter. We’ve already given notice of what we are suing for. These pleadings can be amended at any time.”

Boschetto was promoted to president and COO in January. He joined Draft in 1997 as general manager for the New York office after a company he co-founded, Adler Boschetto Peebles, was acquired by Draft. Boschetto rose through the company’s ranks, and served as president and chief operating officer of Draft New York before being named to his current title.

A motions hearing is scheduled for March 1 in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, according to Aretakis.

Draft’s parent company, Interpublic Group, is also supporting Boschetto.

“We have known Mr. Boschetto as both a colleague and competitor for nearly two decades,” the company said in a statement. “We are sorry that he has been unfairly put in the position of defending his reputation and we stand by him.”