Associated Press
October 20, 2004

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1020ChurchAbuse20-ON.html

TUCSON - Five people have been appointed to a panel that will represent alleged clergy-abuse victims in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.

At least three members of the torts claimants panel have pending lawsuits against the diocese, claiming they were sexually abused as children by clergy members.

All pending litigation against the diocese has been stayed since Sept. 20 when the diocese filed for federal Chapter 11 reorganization.

Diocese officials declined comment on the panel that was appointed Tuesday by U.S. Trustee Ilene Lashinsky.

Tucson attorney Lynne M. Cadigan is representing 20 direct plaintiffs in 17 of the 22 pending legal actions against the diocese.

She said her concern with the panel is that there's no one connected to Yuma, where seven of the direct plaintiffs in the pending legal cases live.

The Yuma plaintiffs claim they were abused as recently as 2002 and three are still minors, according to Cadigan.

Earlier this month, a federal bankruptcy judge set an April 15 deadline for alleged victims of sexual abuse by diocese clergy members to file claims.