Attorney Demands Answers
By Mindy Aguon
A canon law expert from Rome who also works at Boston College has directly contacted three victims of sexual abuse to seek their depositions. The attorney who represents the victims has called for answers, threatening to file an ethical complaint if communication with his clients continues without his consent. In a letter to Rev. James J. Conn, attorney David Lujan questioned why the religious professor contacted three of his clients – Roland P.L. Sondia, Roy T. Quintanilla and Walter G. Denton – to discuss their cases for a matter “not related to the lawsuits on Guam.” Conn is listed as the ordinary professor of canon law, Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome; and professor of the practice of canon law, School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, according to the Canon Law Society of America. Lujan said his clients were contacted directly, and despite his clients insisting that Conn would need to go through their lawyer, the professor said the matter is not related to the lawsuits in Guam so they did not need their attorney’s consent. Lujan put Conn on notice that there shouldn't be any further communication with the clients without first contacting Lujan. Should Conn persist, Lujan said he will file an ethics complaint with Boston College. Sondia, Quintanilla and Denton have all said they were sexually abused by suspended Archbishop Anthony Apuron when they were young altar boys in the 1970s. Lujan wants more information from Conn to determine his motives and, most importantly, who he represents – the Vatican or Apuron. “Are you an unpaid volunteer or a retained person or expert?” Lujan asked. “What is your role in this matter?” Questions on professor's requests Regarding the depositions that Conn requested of his clients, Lujan said he has requested the following answers: Who is taking information at the deposition, and what is his legal authority, his name and address, contact information, qualifications, full-time employment, and on whose behalf is he taking it, i.e., the prosecutor or Apuron? When, where and how long will be the deposition for each of my clients, and who will pay for all costs incurred? What are the names, addresses, titles, contact numbers of all persons who will be present at each of the depositions, and how many persons will be questioning the client? What is the name of the law firm or attorney who will be representing Apuron? Will the deposition be confidential, and what authority is there to ensure any confidentiality agreement is binding and enforceable? What jurisdiction’s legal authority will the depositions be based on and any subpoena to be served on my clients? Lujan said he would commit to an agreement with Conn, only if he provides the answers to his questions and seeks the defrockment or removal of Apuron, not only as an archbishop but also as a priest. The attorney also asked for a copy of all documents that have been filed in Apuron’s canonical trial that is purportedly ongoing in Rome. Those documents and the entire canonical trial process have been secretive, Lujan said. “If (Conn) doesn’t respond, then it means that my gut feeling is correct. We don’t know who they represent,” Lujan said. 15 cases dismissed in Superior Court In the Superior Court of Guam Tuesday, Lujan filed a notice of dismissal of all 15 sex abuse civil lawsuits. Three additional cases were filed yesterday in the District Court of Guam, where 12 of the cases from the local court have been moved. The three cases, filed on behalf of Edward Roberto Chan, Ramon Afaisen De Plata and Paul Joseph Borja against the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Agana, bring to 15 the total number of lawsuits seeking to hold the Vatican responsible for the allegations against the archdiocese. Like the other dozen cases moved over the last two weeks, the three cases filed yesterday each demand relief in the form of a minimum $5 million in damages, bringing the total damages sought in the 15 cases filed thus far to $75 million. Lujan said a new case would be filed later this week.
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