Settlement Reached in Seven Clergy Abuse Cases
Posted by
Michael EyerlyOctober 27, 2006 11:41 PMSeven clergy cases pending against the Los Angeles Archdiocese settle for $10 million.
The parties involved in seven clergy abuse cases reached a settlement agreement yesterday. The seven cases settled for a total of $10 million. Two of the victims alleged they were sexually molested while attending a school in Encino. The cases all involved 67 year old Dominic Savino, who was a Carmelite priest and spent a good many years teaching at Crespi Carmelite High School.
Both the Los Angeles Archdiocese and the Carmelites, a Roman Catholic religious order, were the primary defendants named in these seven cases. The settlement of seven cases represents just a fraction of the hundreds of unresolved claims pending against the Los Angeles Archdiocese, which was able to extricate itself from these seven cases by agreeing to contribute only about 5% towards the global settlement amount. Counsel for the Los Angeles Archdiocese was quoted by the Los Angles Times as saying, "We are encouraged by every settlement, and we hope every one leads to another." With a contribution of just 5% to the total settlement amount, it is no wonder the Los Angeles Archdiocese would like to see more cases settle.
In fact, if the Los Angeles Archdiocese truly wished to bring closure to the hundreds of victims of sexual predation, these cases would have already been resolved. Instead, it appears that the Los Angeles Archdiocese would like to draw these cases out indefinitely, despite its public statements to the contrary. Self serving statements to the press do not resolve cases.
Kiesel, Boucher & Larson has the honor of representing hundreds of victims of sexual abuse in cases pending against the Los Angeles Archdiocese.