A Catholic order of priests that refused to join a record sex-abuse settlement between accusers and the Los Angeles Archdiocese has reached a deal, an attorney for the plaintiffs said.The Salesian Society of Catholic priests reached a $19.5 million settlement in a sexual molestation lawsuit against it, attorney Raymond Boucher said.
The Salesians were the only religious order that would not join the $660 million deal the archdiocese reached last summer.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury had been seated Wednesday to hear claims that the Salesians knew a priest had been accused of abusing children when they assigned him to a high school.
The settlement money will be split among 17 accusers.
The Salesians maintained the society did not know the priest had abused anyone before assigning him to the school.
"We recognize the pain that has been caused by this reprehensible behavior of some, and we are doing everything in our power to ensure this never happens again," the Rev. John Itzaina said in a statement.
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