HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Dozens of clergy sex abuse lawsuits are scheduled to go through mediation later this year, but the attorney representing the plaintiffs said he is prepared to abandon mediation and take the cases to trial. ADVERTISING HAGATNA,
HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Dozens of clergy sex abuse lawsuits are scheduled to go through mediation later this year, but the attorney representing the plaintiffs said he is prepared to abandon mediation and take the cases to trial.
HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Dozens of clergy sex abuse lawsuits are scheduled to go through mediation later this year, but the attorney representing the plaintiffs said he is prepared to abandon mediation and take the cases to trial.
David Lujan made the statement Monday as four abuse lawsuits were filed against Archbishop Anthony Apuron, who does not want to participate in mediation with his accusers, but instead wants the federal court to move forward and rule on his motions to dismiss the cases.
A stay has been granted for the cases of accusers represented by Lujan, but a judge Monday denied Lujan’s motion to postpone further action on the lawsuits, the Guam Pacific Daily News reports.
Apuron, through his attorney, Jacqueline Terlaje, succeeded in blocking Lujan’s request to stop a hearing on the motion to dismiss the cases.
Lujan, counsel for 77 plaintiffs, alleged in federal court that victims of clergy sex abuse and the court are being “scammed” and “played” by the Archdiocese of Agana and Apuron. Lujan said the church is rushing to settle the cases and at the same time is challenging the constitutionality of the 2016 law that allowed the lawsuits to be filed in the first place.
Lujan said the church is rushing to settle the cases and at the same time is challenging the constitutionality of the 2016 law that allowed the lawsuits to be filed in the first place.
Apuron’s attorney has argued the cases against him should be dismissed because the law that retroactively lifted the statute of limitations on those cases is unconstitutional.
Apuron, who is also undergoing a Vatican canonical trial, is not considering any settlement until after the trial in Rome, Terlaje said Monday.
A meeting in Hawaii among all parties is set for Sept. 5, Lujan told the court.
Apuron is one of 14 Guam’s current and former or deceased clergy accused of sexually abusing or raping minor boys and girls.
Both Lujan and Terlaje told the court their clients are now old and want the cases to be resolved.
