COVINGTON (KY)
Cincinnati Post
By Kevin Eigelbach
Post staff reporter
For more than two years, lawyers representing victims of sexually abusive priests and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington were adversaries.
Now, they find themselves united in their desire to get a judge's approval for a settlement of a class-action lawsuit against the diocese.
"I never thought the day would come when I would agree with Stan Chesley on anything," said Carrie Huff, attorney for the diocese.
Chesley's Cincinnati law firm sued the diocese on behalf of victims of priest sexual abuse in February 2003, litigation he later succeeded in getting certified as a class action. After months of direct negotiations, the diocese and Chesley agreed on a settlement that could pay as much as $120 million to an undetermined but comprehensive number of victims.
The parties return to Boone Circuit Court on July 5, seeking preliminary approval for the settlement from Special Judge John Potter.