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  Priest Abuse Case Lawyers Meet for Six Hours in L.A.
Sides Mum on Progress, but 'Nobody Walked Away'

By Greg Moran and Matt Krasnowski
Union-Tribune [San Diego CA]
February 23, 2007

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070223-9999-1m23diocese.html

Lawyers representing the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego and the dozens of plaintiffs suing the diocese over claims of sexual abuse by priests met for more than six hours yesterday in Los Angeles and said they will meet again Monday.

The session involved two dozen lawyers and at times included Bishop Robert Brom, head of the diocese, via speakerphone.

Diocese lawyers left the courthouse without commenting. The plaintiffs' lawyers were cautious in their comments after the session ended about 7:30 p.m.

"It's been a long day," said lawyer Irwin Zalkin, who represents dozens of the plaintiffs.

"Things have not shut down," said Andrea Leavitt, who represents several of the plaintiffs. "If there is good news today, the good news is nobody walked away from each other."

The meeting was initiated by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Anthony Mohr, who on Wednesday afternoon summoned lawyers for the diocese and the plaintiffs to his courtroom. He has been appointed to try to forge a settlement.

The diocese, which covers San Diego and Imperial counties and consists of almost 1 million Catholics, faces about 150 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by clergy and other church workers. The potential value of the claims could approach $200 million.

The talks are occurring as the first trial in the case is set to begin Wednesday. Adding to the urgency is Brom's letter to the Catholic faithful last weekend saying the diocese might have to file for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy if no settlement of the cases was reached.

Such a move would immediately stop all litigation and the trial would not proceed.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs have criticized the move. They say Brom was trying to rattle their clients into a quick settlement and attempting to avoid the trials – and a public airing of the allegations and how the diocese reacted over the years.

The lawyers say the diocese has a vast real estate portfolio, plenty of insurance and other assets to cover the claims.

Brom said in his letter that any settlement could not be so large as to jeopardize the "overall mission" of the diocese.

The lawyers met in a room down the hall from Mohr's chambers. In the hallway outside about a dozen plaintiffs waited, then departed the courthouse at dusk while the talks continued.


  
 
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