BishopAccountability.org
	8 Priest Suits Settle The Oregonian [Portland OR] March 14, 2007 http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/03/8_priest_suits_settle.html Eight men who claim Fr. Donald Durand molested them in the 1970s and 1980s reached confidential settlements with the Portland Archdiocese Wednesday morning. The surprise agreements came a day after three of the plaintiffs testified during two mini-trials in U.S. District Court in Portland. Durand, who is retired, denies molesting children. A videotape of his denial was played in court. The settlements leave eight additional cases unresolved. Five of those involve plaintiffs who are representing themselves, and three of them are in prison. Those cases are scheduled to go to trial next week. Two other sex abuse plaintiffs with attorneys are scheduled for trial on Monday and Tuesday. A non-sex abuse case is scheduled for trial Thursday. The settlements followed a day of testimony before two juries. It was the first time that a priest sex-abuse case went before a jury in Oregon. U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones is overseeing the mini-trials, which are advisory and are designed to help estimate the value of the claims to determine if the Portland Archdiocese's $75 million bankruptcy plan has enough money set aside for unsettled claims. Prior to the Durand settlements, more than 140 plaintiffs settled for more than $40 million as part of a bankruptcy-ordered mediation. The plan is expected to be approved in April.
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