Legal Cornucopia

Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company

The New York Times

June 9, 2002, Sunday, Late Edition - Final

SECTION: Section 1; Page 24; Column 1; National Desk

LENGTH: 257 words

HEADLINE: Hundreds of Clergy Abuse Suits Filed

BYLINE: By The Associated Press

BODY:

At least 300 civil lawsuits contending clerical sexual abuse have been filed in 16 states since January, when the case of a pedophile priest in Boston spurred claims against Roman Catholic dioceses across America, a nationwide review has found.

Lawyers say that the number is unusual for such a short time and that several hundred more cases are being informally mediated.

"It's off the charts," said Pat Schiltz, a Minnesota lawyer who has defended dioceses against hundreds of abuse claims.

In compiling the review, Associated Press reporters across the country interviewed lawyers and reviewed court documents last week. The tally does not include a handful of cases reporting misconduct by lay church workers. Dioceses in Kentucky face the most lawsuits, 122, with more than a third involving claims against one priest, the Rev. Louis E. Miller, who denies any wrongdoing. That number does not include 14 more lawsuits filed on Friday against the Archdiocese of Kentucky.

At least 73 suits have been filed in Massachusetts, where cases involving the former priest John J. Geoghan and the Rev. Paul R. Shanley have been winding through the courts. Mr. Geoghan, whose case began the current scrutiny, was convicted this year of groping one boy, and more than 130 people have accused him of molesting them.

An additional 41 claims have been made in New Hampshire, and at least 25 lawsuits have been filed in California.

In states where no new claims have been made, many old suits are pending.

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LOAD-DATE: June 9, 2002