DAVENPORT - A judge has postponed a trial slated to begin Monday in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by a former Roman Catholic priest, saying questions remain about how the lawsuit and others should proceed.

The Diocese of Davenport recently agreed to pay $9 million to settle decades-old claims of abuse by priests, but another 13 lawsuits remain.

However, District Court Judge C.H. Pelton still has not ruled on how the remaining lawsuits should proceed through the court system.

The trial postponed by Pelton names James Janssen, defrocked by the Vatican after 56 years as a priest.

At this point, trials are expected to move forward against Janssen and four other accused priests, including the Rev. Francis Bass.

Craig Levien, attorney for the 16 plaintiffs, said consolidating the cases against Janssen and Bass could save time, but attorneys for Janssen and Bass have resisted.

"If we don't consolidate them, we could have 18 or 19 trials," Levien said.

The latest delay means the next scheduled trial is set for February.