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	'La Clergy Abuse Case Settlement Premature' Khaleej Times July 15, 2007 http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2007/July/ theworld_July369.xml§ion=theworld&col= Los Angeles - Victims of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in Los Angeles could reach a settlement on damages claims but reports of a 600-million-dollar deal are premature, the victims' lawyer said Saturday. Ray Boucher, who represents hundreds of people who allege abuse by members of the clergy, said a deal may be reached before the case goes to court Monday but figures were still being thrashed out. He described reports putting the settlement at 600 million dollars — meaning around 500 victims would receive an average damages payment of around 1.2 to 1.3 million dollars — as "way off." "Those numbers are off, both in terms of the number of persons affected, and the amount," Boucher told the Los Angeles-based City News Service news agency in an interview on Saturday. "There are only two people who are in the room on the negotiations, and I am one of them," he said. "I can state categorically that those numbers are off, way off, and that the total number of victims covered by any settlement has not been settled with any finality." Boucher said both sides were "still at the table, working hard, to come up with a solution before Monday," blaming the reports on a leak from a victim's attorney citing out-of-date information. A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Los Angeles would not comment on reports that a settlement was imminent. "The Archdiocese will be in court Monday at 9:30 am," said spokesman Tod Tamberg. "That is all we can say until then." He also declined to comment on the reported settlement figure, which must be approved by the Los Angeles Superior Court. Mary Grant, the western regional director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), told AFP Saturday that no deal had been reached and urged victims to be cautious. "There is no deal," Grant said. "As far as I am aware they are still talking, but at this time there is no deal. "We are telling victims to expect anything — there could be a deal on Monday, there could be a partial settlement, or the case could go to court." The Roman Catholic Church in the United States has been rocked by clergy pedophilia scandals in recent years. Several priests have been convicted and at least four dioceses have gone bankrupt after being sentenced to pay huge civil penalties and interest.
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