Pre-Trial Conference February 25

Yesterday I attended the pre-trial conference in Department 86 of the Los Angeles Superior Court over the Bush group's appeal of the California unemployment board's ruling that Fr Kelley is entitled to unemployment compensation, since there was no evidence of misconduct on his part.

It was a quick conference. Neither side's attorney was present in court; Damon Anastasia called in via conference call. He moved for a continuance, and apparently the state's attorney had already agreed. The basis was that the trial of the other cases, scheduled for April 9 (what I picked up from the conversation), would determine who controls St Mary's, and if the outcome of the trial goes against the Bush group, the unemployment issue will be moot. The judge agreed. If necessary, a new pre-trial conference will be May 27.

Not much was going to be decided in this conference in any case. My biggest concern was that the state's attorney be aware of the other cases, and it's clear he is. My wife thinks the eagerness of Lancaster & Anastasia to punt, and the fact that Number Two was handling it, indicates that the case has fallen in priority as far as they're concerned -- "They've probably written it off," was how she put it.

So the next big event is April 9.