California Court of Appeal

In a negligence action against defendant-Salesian Society for failing to protect plaintiff from childhood sexual abuse at the hands of one of defendant's priests, judgment against defendant is affirmed where, if it is relevant to the issue, a witness may be impeached by evidence of a prior conviction in order to show bias, without regard to the nature of the underlying crime as it relates to the character traits of honesty and truthfulness.

Appellate Information

• Decided 08/20/2008
• Published 08/20/2008

Judges

• RUBIN, J.

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Foley & Lardner, Stephen A. McFeely, Leila Nourani, Los Angeles, Marisa J. Ippolito, Irvine;  Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold, Thomas A. Delaney, Irvine, Wayne B. Mason and Kirk C. Jenkins for Defendant and Appellant., Furtado, Jaspovice & Simmons and Richard J. Simons;  Daniel U. Smith, Cerritos, for Plaintiff and Respondent.