Settlements reached in church sex abuse cases
Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News
Published November 14, 2006 at midnight
Four men have agreed through mediation to settle their sex abuse claims against the Archdiocese of Denver for between $100,000 and $150,000 each, the attorney for the victims said Monday.
"Mediation provided a venue to try to get some closure and they obviously felt this was the right decision for them," said Jeff Herman, the Miami-based attorney who represents 19 clients suing the archdiocese.
It was revealed several weeks ago that settlements were imminent but few details were provided.
Last May, Archbishop Charles Chaput offered a settlement process to the 29 men and one woman who have filed lawsuits alleging they were sexually abused by priests employed by the archdiocese. The alleged incidents occurred between 27 and 50 years ago and involved either Leonard Abercrombie, who died in 1994, or Harold Robert White, who is defrocked.
The balance of the lawsuits are being handled by St. Paul, Minn., attorney Jeff Anderson.
Herman said all his clients pursued mediation but some of them stopped the process, saying they want the archdiocese to open all records pertaining to the two accused priests.
"We would never shut the door (to mediation), but obviously if the archdiocese would agree to release the files that show what they knew about White and Abercrombie that would jump-start things for many of these victims," he said. "To us that seems not only fair but the right thing to do."
Sex abuse activists have called on the archdiocese to release all files related to sex abuse charges. The archdiocese argues that it would be a privacy breach to release clergy personnel files.
"The archdiocese is very grateful to those who participated" in mediation, said Jeanette DeMelo, the archdiocese's communications director. She added that others are still going through the process.
Meanwhile, the remaining lawsuits are proceeding in Denver District Court. The archdiocese has filed motions to dismiss the cases, arguing that the statute of limitations has expired. Herman predicted they would not likely reach trial stage until next year.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
