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Million-Dollar Settlements
By Chris Knap
Orange County Register
May 17, 2005
Since 2001, 23 priests and laypeople working for the Diocese
of Orange have cost the church $1 million or more each in settlements
of sexual- abuse allegations. The bulk of the money was paid in a record
$100.million settlement with 90 plaintiffs earlier this year. Most cases
settled prior to 2001 were confidential; there is no public record of
the amounts. Many of those accused continue to deny any wrongdoing.
| Name |
Church title |
2005 settlements |
Total public settlements |
| Siegfried Widera |
Priest |
$17,726,400 |
$17,726,400 |
| Michael Harris |
Priest, monsignor, principal |
$12,420,000* |
$17,620,000 |
| Eleuterio Ramos |
Priest |
$16,634,371 |
$16,634,371 |
| Andrew Christian Andersen |
Priest |
$4,620,000 |
$4,620,000 |
| Santino Casimano |
Priest |
$4,200,000 |
$4,200,000 |
| John Kenney |
Priest |
$4,200,000 |
$4,200,000 |
| Gregory Atherton |
Servite brother |
$4,169,325 |
$4,169,325 |
| Denis Lyons |
Priest |
$4,090,000 |
$4,090,000 |
| Robert Richardson |
Teacher, track coach |
$4,000,000 |
$4,000,000 |
| John Lord |
Priest |
$3,739,842 |
$3,739,842 |
| Richard Coughlin |
Priest |
$3,119,700 |
$3,119,700 |
| Franklin Buckman |
Priest |
$1,959,700 |
$1,959,700 |
| Thomas Hodgman |
Teacher, choir master |
$1,600,000 |
$1,600,000 |
| Sofronio Aranda |
Priest |
$1,550,000 |
$1,550,000 |
| Tim Adams |
Choir director,youth leader |
$1,500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
| Edito Dalmacio Amora |
Priest |
$1,420,000 |
$1,420,000 |
| John Merino |
School administrator |
$1,420,000* |
$1,420,000 |
| Donald Stevens |
School caretaker |
$1,200,000 |
$1,200,000 |
| John Lenihan |
Priest |
$0 |
$1,200,000 |
| Peter Magana |
Priest |
$1,019,400 |
$1,019,400 |
| Daniel Murray |
Monsignor |
$513,400* |
$1,013,400 |
| William McKnight |
Eucharistic minister |
$1,000,000* |
$1,000,000 |
| Michael Pecharich |
Priest |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
*Number includes at least one case in which more
than one individual was accused of abuse. Since no division of damages was
filed with the court, the entire settlement is counted here in the total
of each man accused.
Sources: Los Angeles Superior Court documents; plaintiffs’ attorneys;
Register reports.
Reporting by: Chris Knap, The Register
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