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	School: Trial Loss Means Bankruptcy Lawyer for Alleged Abuse Victims Calls Regina's Plan a 'Fear Tactic' By Erin Jordan and Shirley Ragsdale Des Moines Register October 10, 2006 http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061010/NEWS/610100391/1001/SPORTS13 Iowa City, Ia. - Leaders of Regina Catholic Education Center say they are ready to go to trial later this month as part of a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by a former principal. But if the Iowa City school loses the trial, scheduled to start Oct. 23, it will file for bankruptcy to protect its assets from being seized as part of three pending lawsuits regarding Lawrence Soens, who was principal at Regina from 1958 to 1967, leaders said. "Our goal is to continue to provide high-quality, Christ-centered education, no matter the outcome," Patrice Carroll, treasurer of the Regina Board of Education, said during a news conference Monday morning. Craig Levien, the attorney representing 15 men who claim they were sexually abused by Soens, a retired bishop of the Sioux City Diocese, said Regina's talk of bankruptcy is a scare tactic. "We are willing to meet (with Regina officials) and discuss an equitable settlement, one well within school resources, so they can continue to operate," Levien said Monday. "I believe the suggestions of bankruptcy is a fear tactic to scare Regina supporters. Those efforts would be better served in attempting to resolve these cases." Regina, which has about 1,000 students from preschool to 12th grade, has been named in three lawsuits involving 15 plaintiffs. The Davenport Diocese and Soens are also named in the lawsuits. The first trial, from a case filed in April 2005 by Michael Gould, now of Florida, is expected to last five days after jury selection in Scott County District Court, said Lee Iben, Regina school board chairman. "We're still planning to go to trial on Oct. 23," he said. There have been no settlement talks, leaders said. The school has hired a bankruptcy attorney and a public relations firm, actions that drew flak from a victim support group. "It's sad and ironic that a Catholic school can find money to hire a PR firm and defense lawyers, but not have money to help victims," said David Clohessy, national director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Former students who have filed lawsuits say Soens' abusive actions were so well-known that students recited a ditty about the dangers of being called to the principal's office. Students said Soens took pleasure in cornering them in hallways of offices and twisting their nipples, a bruising action they called "purpling." Gould, who attended Regina in the mid-1960s, alleges Soens would call him into the principal's office on the pretext of discussing a disciplinary matter and then fondle his nipples and penis over his clothing. Regina officials said Monday they don't think the school should be included in the lawsuit because, at the time of the alleged acts, principals were hired and supervised by four area priests and the bishop - meaning no lay Catholics were involved in the decisions, Iben said. School officials believe too much time has passed since the alleged acts. Soens has also denied the accusations, and adults working at the school at that time do not recall any inappropriate acts, Iben said. School leaders met with about 250 parents in two meetings last week and with seventh- through 12th-grade students on Friday, leaders said. "The temperature of the room was much calmer after the meeting," Iben said. Reporter Erin Jordan can be reached at (319) 351-6527 or ejordan@dmreg.com
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