WASHINGTON
NBC Chicago
By Phil Rogers
The law firm that once represented the Catholic Archidocese of Spokane has filed a motion against the Archdiocese and incoming Chicago Archbishop Blaise Cupich, seeking to dismiss Cupich’s malpractice claim against them.
Cupich filed a claim earlier this year against the firm, Paine-Hamblen, alleging that they inadequately protected the Spokane Archdiocese during bankruptcy proceedings, and that they failed to disclose a potential conflict to the court concerning their representation of the previous Archbishop, William Skylstad, during litigation concerning sexual abuse claims.
In the latest motion, the firm insists there was no conflict, because they represented Skylstad in his capacity as head of the Archdiocese, not personally. Indeed, Skylstad himself affirmed that fact in depositions associated with the case, and is quoted as saying Paine-Hamblen had done a “remarkable job” in their representation of the Spokane Church.
The document quotes Father Steve Dublinksi, the former vicar general of the Archdiocese, as saying that he argued unsuccessfully to Cupich that the suit against his parish’s longtime attorneys was ill-advised.
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