LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles is seeking to delay upcoming sex abuse trials or move them out of Los Angeles because it doesn't believe it can get a fair jury.
Church lawyer J. Michael Hennigan tells the Los Angeles Times the environment in LA "is currently hostile."
Earlier this week, the archdiocese asked a judge to move the case of a Mexican priest accused of abusing more than two dozen boys to a courthouse in San Luis Obispo County some 200 miles away or a trial delay of at least six months.
Some experts say it's unusual to ask for a venue change in civil cases.
In 2007, the archdiocese settled more than 500 clergy abuse lawsuits for a record-breaking $660 million.
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