BATON ROUGE (LA)
The Advocate
By ADRIAN ANGELETTE
aangelette@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff writer
The Diocese of Baton Rouge and several former altar boys who claim they were sexually abused years ago by a priest have settled lawsuits.
Felecia Peavy, the Houston attorney representing men who say former priest Christopher Springer abused them when they were altar boys, said exact terms of the settlements can't be disclosed.
The cases remain under seal in state district court in Baton Rouge and are not open for public review.
Peavy said the diocese agreed to a monetary settlement with four of the altar boys she represents and will also pay for therapy and medical treatment. Negotiations are continuing with two other former altar boys who accuse Springer of abusing them.
"I'm hoping for a settlement before the next hearing date," Peavy said Monday. "It was a long, hard-fought battle. It was contentious. But I think it has been well worth the effort because now the diocese can safely say they put forth the effort to resolve the problem."