3 years after settlement, Los Angeles abuse files have yet to be released

May 04, 2010

Three years after the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to “work cooperatively … to expedite review of the personnel files of the accused offenders” as part of a $660-million settlement, the accused priests’ personnel files have yet to be released. The Los Angeles Times reports:

There is little financial incentive for attorneys to move the process forward; most plaintiffs' attorneys received their compensation shortly after the settlement. In Los Angeles, the throng of plaintiffs' attorneys once involved in the cases has been reduced to just one still working on the release of the files at the moment.

The process is being overseen by a retired judge and is occurring largely outside public view. There are no deadlines. The lawyer who represents priests accused of abuse has insisted all along that any document involving their personnel records is shielded by state and federal privacy laws and has fought release at each step. And the archdiocese has shown little interest in speeding the process.

 

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Further information:

• Abusive priests' personnel files remain under wraps (Los Angeles Times)