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L.A. Catholic Church to Pay $600 Million in Abuse Cases
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles will settle its clergy abuse
cases for at least $600 million, by far the largest payout in the church's
sexual abuse scandal, The Associated Press learned Saturday.
Attorneys for the archdiocese and alleged victims are expected to announce
the deal Monday, the day the first of more than 500 clergy abuse cases was
scheduled for jury selection, according to two people with knowledge of the
agreement. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the
settlement had not been made public.
The archdiocese and its insurers will pay between $600 million and $650
million to about 500 plaintiffs-an average of $1.2 to $1.3 million per
person. The settlement also calls for the release of confidential priest
personnel files after review by a judge assigned to oversee the litigation,
the sources said.
It wasn't immediately clear how the payout would be split between the
insurers, the archdiocese and several Roman Catholic religious orders. A
judge must sign off on the agreement, and final details were being ironed
out over the weekend.
Tod Tamberg, an archdiocese spokesman, did not immediately return a call for
comment.
The settlement would be the largest ever by a Roman Catholic archdiocese
since the clergy sexual abuse scandal erupted in Boston in 2002.
Among the largest total payouts was $100 million in 2004 by the Diocese of
Orange, Calif., to settle 90 claims. The Diocese of Covington, Ky., last
year agreed to pay $84 million for 552 cases. Facing a flood of abuse
claims, five dioceses-Tucson, Ariz.; Spokane, Wash.; Portland, Ore.;
Davenport, Iowa, and San Diego-sought bankruptcy protection.
Last month, the Archdiocese of Portland agreed to pay about $52 million to
175 victims, while setting aside another $20 million for anyone who comes
forward in the future.
The Diocese of Spokane, Wash., also recently emerged from bankruptcy
protection after agreeing to pay $48 million to settle about 150 claims.
L.A. Catholic Church to Pay $600 Million in Abuse Cases
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles will settle its clergy abuse
cases for at least $600 million, by far the largest payout in the church's
sexual abuse scandal, The Associated Press learned Saturday.
Attorneys for the archdiocese and alleged victims are expected to announce
the deal Monday, the day the first of more than 500 clergy abuse cases was
scheduled for jury selection, according to two people with knowledge of the
agreement. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the
settlement had not been made public.
The archdiocese and its insurers will pay between $600 million and $650
million to about 500 plaintiffs-an average of $1.2 to $1.3 million per
person. The settlement also calls for the release of confidential priest
personnel files after review by a judge assigned to oversee the litigation,
the sources said.
It wasn't immediately clear how the payout would be split between the
insurers, the archdiocese and several Roman Catholic religious orders. A
judge must sign off on the agreement, and final details were being ironed
out over the weekend.
Tod Tamberg, an archdiocese spokesman, did not immediately return a call for
comment.
The settlement would be the largest ever by a Roman Catholic archdiocese
since the clergy sexual abuse scandal erupted in Boston in 2002.
Among the largest total payouts was $100 million in 2004 by the Diocese of
Orange, Calif., to settle 90 claims. The Diocese of Covington, Ky., last
year agreed to pay $84 million for 552 cases. Facing a flood of abuse
claims, five dioceses-Tucson, Ariz.; Spokane, Wash.; Portland, Ore.;
Davenport, Iowa, and San Diego-sought bankruptcy protection.
Last month, the Archdiocese of Portland agreed to pay about $52 million to
175 victims, while setting aside another $20 million for anyone who comes
forward in the future.
The Diocese of Spokane, Wash., also recently emerged from bankruptcy
protection after agreeing to pay $48 million to settle about 150 claims.
