Los Angeles, Calif., Jun 20, 2007 / 08:56 am
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is expected to settle hundreds of clergy sex abuse claims as a series of trials are set to start this summer.
Fifteen trials, involving 172 of the more than 500 alleged victims, are scheduled to be heard by juries over six months, beginning July 9, reported The Associated Press.
Ray Boucher, the lead plaintiff's attorney, said trials are set every three weeks between July and January. Many of the cases will be presented as "serial cases," in which the alleged victims of one priest group their claims before the same jury. Some trials will involve as many as 40 alleged victims at once.
The AP reported that a Los Angeles Superior Court judge recently ruled that Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles, must testify in one of those cases. The same judge also decided that four alleged victims may seek punitive damages from the archdiocese.