Denver, Colo., Jul 30, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Several people who said clergy in the Archdiocese of Denver sexually abused them have agreed to try to work through their legal claims with mediation, the Rocky Mountain News has reported
Judge Richard Dana, a former chief district justice whose legal firm will conduct the mediation process, made the announcement Thursday. However, Dana declined to disclose how many of the alleged victims signed up for mediation.
In May, Archbishop Charles Chaput hired Dana’s firm, Judicial Arbiters Group, to offer independent mediation to the 30 people who have filed lawsuits against the archdiocese and to anyone who claimed abuse by clergy but did not file a suit. The deadline to request mediation is Aug. 25th.
Accusers may bring their lawyers with them to begin the mediation; church officials will not participate in the process. If accusers decide not to proceed with mediation or are not pleased with the results, they may proceed with their lawsuits.
The alleged incidents happened between 27 and 50 years ago. They involve two priests, Leonard Abercrombie, who died in 1994, and Harold Robert White, who is defrocked.
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