July 16, 2007

RE: PRESS RELEASE REGARDING BAMIEH & ERICKSON PLC'S CLIENTS' ACCEPTING SETTLEMENT OF PRIEST ABUSE CASES BY THE LOS ANGELES ARCHIDIOCESE.

Bamieh & Erickson, PLC is pleased to announce that their Ventura County clients have joined in the historic settlement reached with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles regarding their claims of clergy abuse. Our clients are pleased with the multimillion dollar settlement reached over the last two weeks. While we are satisfied with the end result, we were awaiting the full opportunity for our clients to have their day in court and right their wrongs in trial against the Archdiocese for the abuse perpetrated by Father Carl Sutphin at the St. Mary Magdelen Parish in Camarillo, California.

Founding and Managing Partner Ron Bamieh stated, "We have had these cases for the last four years and for three of those years we were prevented from litigating the issues due to the Court imposed Stay on all proceedings. We were confident that once the Court allowed us to commence litigation, we would receive favorable results. For the last year, since the Stay was lifted, we were forced to contend with many of the Church's unreasonable requests for discovery intended to embarrass our clients, the Church's motions to dismiss, and then prepare for trial. Through it all, our clients had faith in our ability and confidence in their case. For this I am forever grateful. Our clients are courageous men, who wanted to bring their issues forward and expose a great injustice. Our clients decided to accept the settlement for the sake of closure, both for themselves and their families. Both clients are hoping they can use this settlement to help other victims who were barred from the suit, provide for the education of their children, and help them find peace after years of torment.

"Professionally, I am proud of our firm for withstanding the incredible litigation capacity of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. I believe that Archdiocese lawyers assumed that a small firm from Ventura could not withstand the onslaught of motions and litigious activity they attempted to create. I am proud to say that our firm proved them wrong. I am grateful to our staff and lawyers who literally worked hundreds of hours to prepare this case for trial."

Our clients are still debating whether they want to make a public statement. They ask for your patience while they make their decision.