Were You Abused?
Call Today: 1-866-777-2557
If you were sexually abused as a child by a priest, deacon or any other member of the Catholic Church, you are not alone. We are here to help you. Please fill out our confidential online contact form or call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 and a Minnesota Sexual Abuse Lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your possible case. Help is available nationwide. There is no cost to investigate and there are no legal fees unless you receive financial compensation. Making the call is sometimes the hardest step, but it is often a necessary step on the road to healing. Church Sexual Assault Lawyer Minnesota
Reasons to call
Please call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 or fill out our confidential contact form and a lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your case. Minnesota Church Sexual Assault Lawyer
In 2017, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis attempted to settle with victims of clergy sexual abuse and pull itself out of bankruptcy. The archdiocese and a creditors committee made up of sexual abuse victims submitted competing plans for settlement to Judge Robert Kressel, but the federal judge rejected both plans. The archdiocese originally filed for bankruptcy in January 2015 due to facing hundreds of sex abuse claims against priests made possible by the Minnesota Child Victims Act passed by the legislature that temporarily extended the statute of limitations in abuse cases. Though 15 other dioceses across the United States have filed for bankruptcy, this was the first time that two competing settlement plans were allowed to be heard in court.
Minnesota Church Sexual Assault Lawyer
Judge Kressel stated that the victims’ proposal would raise money for victims by placing an unrealistic reliance on third party lawsuits and requiring too much time and money to accomplish. He pointed out that the archdiocese’s plan which offered a $155 million settlement had been rejected by 90% of the abuse victims in a vote. The archdiocese had also objected to the plan put forward by the creditors that would have allegedly stripped the archdiocese of all assets that were necessary to practice the church’s mission. Judge Kressel encouraged both parties to come to a consensual plan that would provide a timely and appropriate compensation for sexual abuse victims. The judge pointed out that eight of the victims who had filed claims had died since the bankruptcy filing in 2015 and was concerned that the attorney fees could top $40 million.
Church Sexual Assault Lawyer Minnesota
Attorneys for the sexual abuse victims were pleased with the return to settlement discussions, because they believed it would help lead to a consensual plan that could be resolved quickly. Victim attorney Jeff Anderson said that his team would consider the judge’s recommendation that attorney fees be lowered for the victims. By the end of 2016, combined attorney fees for both the archdiocese and the victims were more than $12 million.
Minnesota Church Sexual Assault Lawyer
The chairman of the Reorganization Task Force of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Tom Abood, expressed commitment from the archdiocese in moving the settlement talks forward. He was pleased that Judge Kressel rejected allegations that the archdiocese was acting in bad faith. According to Abood, the archdiocese was looking forward to engaging with the victims in the mediation as directed by the judge.
Church Sexual Assault Lawyer Minnesota
Copyright ©2020 Vanderhyde Law. All Rights Reserved. Please read our disclaimer and terms of use. The use of this website or contact forms does not create an attorney client relationship. Under our legal system, all parties mentioned in this website are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Attorney Advertising