GUAM
Pacific Daily News
June 5, 2018
By Haidee V. Eugenio
One hundred eighty-four people said they were sexually abused by members of Guam’s Catholic clergy or others associated with the church, but 10 of them decided not to sue, attorneys said at Tuesday’s court hearing on the status of efforts to settle the cases through mediation.
Mediation is set for Sept. 17 to 21, which is two days longer than initially anticipated.
Seattle-based attorney Michael Patterson, counsel for the Archdiocese of Agana, told judges 142 sworn statements have so far been gathered from the 174 who filed clergy sex abuse lawsuits.
The deposition-like interviews with plaintiffs on Guam, Hawaii and other states are for case review and claims evaluation. They could wrap up by the middle of July.
U.S. District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood, along with Superior Court Judge Michael Bordallo, said 116 cases have been filed in federal court and 58 in local court, for a total of 174 cases.
In addition to the 174 clergy sex abuse lawsuits, there are 10 other people who have come forward, are receiving counseling from Hope and Healing Guam, and are not suing the archdiocese, for a total of 184 alleged victims.
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