SAN DIEGO (CA)
Union-Tribune
By Greg Moran
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
May 6, 2005
A lawyer for dozens of plaintiffs in sexual-abuse lawsuits filed against the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego yesterday said cases will begin going to trial if the latest round of talks on a settlement does not succeed.
The development comes two years after nearly 100 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy were combined to work out a settlement.
At a news conference outside the Pastoral Center of the diocese, lawyer Irwin Zalkin expressed some guarded hope that a settlement could be reached. Zalkin, whose firm represents 35 of the 144 people who have sued the diocese, said the appointment of a new settlement judge and a meeting this week added urgency to the stalled talks.
He said lawyers for the plaintiffs, the diocese and its insurance carrier – a critical player in any potential settlement – met in a confidential session Tuesday with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Anthony Mohr.
Posted by kshaw at May 6, 2005 05:32 AM