February 27, 2006

Lawyers team up to take on sex-abuse cases

WASHINGTON
The Seattle Times

By Janet I. Tu
Seattle Times staff reporter

Seattle-area attorneys Michael Pfau, left, and Timothy Kosnoff represent most of the sex-abuse victims who've sued the Catholic Church in Seattle and Spokane.

One is the product of a Catholic home, parochial schools and a Jesuit college. He's cool-headed and analytical, speaking in measured tones.

The other is the grandson of Jewish immigrants from Russia. He's demonstrative, advocating for clients in passionate torrents.

Together, Seattle-area attorneys Michael Pfau and Timothy Kosnoff represent the vast majority of sex-abuse victims who've sued the Roman Catholic Church in Seattle and in Spokane, where the diocese has filed for bankruptcy.

Their work as a team began just three years ago but already has been highly successful, including a recent settlement proposal from the Spokane Diocese that goes beyond a sizable dollar amount.

Posted by kshaw at February 27, 2006 07:09 AM