June 26, 2005

Judge Postpones Hearing on Church Abuse Settlement

BURLINGTON (KY)
ChallengerNKY

BURLINGTON - A judge postponed a decision whether to approve a proposed $120 million class-action settlement over sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Northern Kentucky.

A hearing scheduled for Thursday is now set for July 5. Neither the diocese nor the plaintiffs requested that Judge John W. Potter of Louisville delay the hearing.

The delay came two weeks after Potter, a retired Jefferson County circuit judge appointed 18 months ago as a special judge in the Boone County case, ordered attorneys rewrite the public notices of the settlement.

Potter took issue with the references to a $120 million settlement, saying the church did not have that amount on hand and he wanted the notices to specify that.

Posted by kshaw at June 26, 2005 06:51 AM