Attending the all-day meeting in a neutral downtown location were four representatives of the Episcopal Church and 20 people on the other side, including representatives of the CANA parish, some of the members being sued by the diocese and the members’ attorneys. Overseeing the settlement conference was Bill Neighbors, a mediator with the Judicial Arbiter Group in Denver for more than 20 years and a former state Supreme Court justice.
Judge Larry Schwartz recommended mediation to resolve the outstanding lawsuits in his March 24 order, but the quick resolution came as a welcome surprise, both sides say.
“We are pleased with the settlement,” CANA parish spokesperson Kelly Oliver said in a statement, “especially since it relieved our staff and vestry members of the burden of the expense of defending against $5 million in unjustified claims brought against them.”
Diocese chancellor Larry R. Hitt II said the settlement conference was successful because the CANA members being sued and the CANA parish seeking an appeal realized their cases were flimsy.
I will take comments on this submitted by email only to at KSHarmon[at]mindspring[dot]com.