Charleston, S.C., Apr 18, 2009 / 17:04 pm
The Diocese of Charleston has described as “unfounded” a lawsuit’s claim that diocesan officials colluded with attorneys who served as counsels in a class action settlement between the diocese and past victims of sexual abuse.
The diocese entered into a settlement agreement with sexual abuse victims on January 12, 2007. The agreement was approved on July 30, 2007.
On April 13 attorney Greg Meyers filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging the diocese had colluded with victims’ attorneys in the class action suit. Myers’ suit also alleged that a plaintiff was sexually abused by a priest.
A press release from the diocese said that the class action agreement provided a mechanism to compensate individuals who claimed to have been abused by church personnel and to compensate their spouses and parents for their injuries resulting from the abuse.