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The Zalkin Law Firm appeared before the Honorable Haley Fromholz on Monday morning, July 17, 2007 in Los Angeles Superior Court, and put on the record what is the largest settlement yet of childhood sexual abuse cases against any Catholic diocese in the country; $660 Million for 506 victims. Zalkin Law Firm, represented 1 of the 14 victims who were set to go to trial starting Monday morning against Cardinal Mahony and the Los Angeles Archdiocese for acts of sexual abuse over a span of 20 years by a serial perpetrator priest, Fr. Clinton Hagenbach.
After four years of mediation, and contentious litigation, Cardinal Mahony along with insurance companies and some religious Orders have agreed to the settlement. Zalkin Law Firm, represent 13 victims in cases against the Los Angeles Archdiocese and 54 victims with claims against Bishop Robert Brom and the San Diego Diocese along with numerous other cases throughout the country.
“The size of this settlement is a testament to the magnitude of the harm that was done to children. It is a reckoning long overdue. More importantly, the Cardinal has agreed to release the documents that tell the truth of what really happened and will vindicate the victims as against those who doubted and cynically denied their claims” Irwin M. Zalkin.
“ Unlike Cardinal Mahony, who has finally been willing to accept responsibility for his actions, and the actions of his predecessors, Bishop Robert Brom, has abdicated his role as shepherd of the San Diego Catholic community and its moral leader to his lawyer who now runs the diocese. Michael Webb cries that the San Diego Diocese is to poor to acknowledge the real value of the harm done here, at a time when Bishop Brom has testified under oath in the bankruptcy proceedings that he does not know what the net worth is of his diocese and can’t tell us who would know that.” Irwin M. Zalkin
The world is watching what Bishop Brom , and Michael Webb will do now.
The Zalkin Law Firm will be available in the courtyard of their offices for questions on Monday, July 17, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. at 12555 High Bluff Dr., San Diego, CA 92130.
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