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In The News
How capital lawyer won abuse cases Joseph George stood on the Sacramento courthouse steps this week, watching as the media swarmed around his clients. The attorney, who represented all 33 plaintiffs who settled for $35 million with the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, was clearly enjoying the moment. He handed out news releases and dispensed sound bites like a pro. The psychologist-turned-lawyer who couldn't get a job as a trial attorney when he started 20 years ago will make millions from the clergy sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church and has become known as the local specialist in religious abuse cases. For the past three years, the Sacramento attorney has worked on the cases with an almost religious devotion. He says he sold his assets, went heavily into debt to finance the lawsuits and continued working even after a near-fatal cycling accident. His efforts have paid off: George's portion of the Sacramento settlement will come to about $3.5 million, after splitting legal fees with co-counsel. He said the plaintiffs will receive about 55 percent of the total ($19.25 million). The day the Sacramento agreement was announced, George reached a $7.3 million settlement with the Santa Rosa Diocese for eight plaintiffs. Combined with an April settlement with that diocese, George has negotiated $10.6 million for plaintiffs there. His share will be about $1 million, he says. He also is representing six clients suing the Stockton Diocese. Those cases are in litigation. "Sometimes I think, 'How did this happen?' " said George. "I guess this is an accumulation of all my experiences." Experiences that include being a former military man, a psychologist, an attorney and - he says, believe it or not - a Catholic who attended Catholic schools through college. "I have a special place in my heart for the faith and the priests I interacted with as a kid growing up in Philadelphia. The overwhelming majority do tremendous work," said George, in his downtown office the day after the settlement. "But I'm very disillusioned with the church as an institution. They should have done something about this a long time ago and didn't." George's belief in his clients was important to them. "Let's face it, most people wouldn't take us on," said one Sacramento man, a sexual abuse victim who has remained anonymous throughout the settlement process. "Joe showed us respect, and that's a lot considering he had to deal with a lot of different personalities and cultures." Over the course of the lawsuits, George brought in attorneys Jeff Anderson, considered the top litigator in the field nationwide, and Larry Drivon from Stockton, because of his experience. Opposing counsel complimented George. "I believe he cared about his clients and worked hard for them," said Andrea "Andy" Miller, lead trial counsel for the Sacramento Diocese. George, 53, says working on the clergy sexual abuse cases was a natural for him. After all, evaluating people and figuring out what makes them tick is what he's trained to do. He became interested in reading people while in the military, working as a psychiatric technician at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. He later earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. While in school, George began hearing about patients suing their psychiatrists for sexual abuse and he became interested in the law. Later, while working as a psychologist at Travis Air Force Base, George attended McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento at night. He graduated soon after his military obligation was up in 1985. George wanted a job as a trial attorney, "but I couldn't get hired." He started his own practice. Because of his background, he was soon representing clients suing their former psychologists for abuse. "You could say I turned on my own," he said, laughing. Over the years, George became known for his niche practice. In 2002, as the church abuse scandal began to explode, he started hearing from alleged victims. Through word of mouth and publicity, he eventually ended up with all the clients in this week's settlement. "When I first heard that he was taking on the sexual abuse cases I knew he was the right guy to do it," said Robert Sullivan, a Sacramento attorney who met George years ago when George represented a woman suing a psychologist for abuse. Sullivan defended the psychologist. "I was impressed by his professionalism," said Sullivan. The case was settled, the two became friends and began referring cases to each other. George said there's a lot of similarity between the psychology cases and the cases against the church. "They're both about abuse of trust and power," he said. In May 2004, George's work was jeopardized after he was in a biking accident near Lake Berryessa. He suffered a brain bleed and multiple fractures in his skull. He has significant hearing loss and can no longer smell or taste. "Things up here," he says, pointing to his head, "were juggled around." George says the accident and the sexual abuse scandal affected the way he looks at life and people. "I know less about people and what they're capable of than I did three years ago," said the attorney. He said he is proud of the plaintiffs for coming forward and adds that many have grown in confidence. But people still surprise him. Last week, he called one of his clients - not one of the stronger cases, he says - to tell him he would receive a $400,000 settlement. George reminded the man of the legal fees. "He said, 'What? I have to pay you?' " said George. The attorney insists suing the diocese was never about the money and is aware of the perception he is profiting from other people's pain. "Look, I drive a 7-year-old car with 157,000 miles on it," he said, not mentioning it is a Jaguar. He rents his home and is in debt "to my eyeballs." Twice divorced, he is the father of Joe Jr., now working as an attorney in his father's office. Once the litigation in the Stockton cases is over, George plans to pay his bills and take care of his health. "I agree with the church on this at least ... It's been a long three years." |
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