SAN DIEGO (CA)
Union-Tribune
By Onell R. Soto
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 19, 2005
A judge has lifted a 2½-year-old order freezing several lawsuits accusing the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego of condoning or ignoring staff members who sexually abused children over the past few decades.
The move is a first step toward getting the claims of sexual abuse before juries, said a lawyer for people who say they were abused by priests and others who worked for the San Diego diocese.
"The judge has made it clear these cases are going to trial," lawyer Irwin Zalkin said.
Micheal Webb, a lawyer for the San Diego diocese, said the judge's order is narrow and only allows limited litigation.