575 Sex Abuse Claims: Milwaukee Archdiocese's bankruptcy plan is in the works

[Scuba]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/religion/milwaukee-archdiocese-is-ready-to-file-bankruptcy-plan-b99180350z1-240195521.html

Three years after it declared bankruptcy as a way to deal with its mounting sex abuse claims, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is poised to file the reorganization plan that will detail how it compensates abuse victims and operates as an institution into the future.

...

While the reorganization plan is a significant step toward exiting bankruptcy, legal scholars suggest that exit could still be a long way off. Even then, the legal battles could go on for years. "This is not the end game. There will be multiple objections on multiple bases," said Pamela Foohey, a professor at the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign, who specializes in bankruptcy law.

The Milwaukee bankruptcy, filed by Archbishop Jerome Listecki in January 2011, came after the archdiocese had been largely successful in fighting lawsuits dating back at least to the 1950s. With 575 sex abuse claims and legal fees topping $11 million, it is one of the largest and most contentious bankruptcies filed by Catholic dioceses around the country, say observers and lawyers who've worked on those cases.

Regarding the national average abuse payments to abuse victims being in the $400,000 range ...

By all accounts, that seems unlikely in Milwaukee, where the archdiocese has insisted from the beginning that all but a few million dollars of its $100 million or more in assets is restricted and cannot be used for sex-abuse settlements. Insurance funds, which have been a major contributor to other church settlements, are expected to be a much smaller part of the Milwaukee reorganization plan. Insurers have argued that they are not liable because the underlying allegation against the archdiocese is fraud, but one group has negotiated with the archdiocese to buy back its policies for an unspecified amount of money.

And $11,000,000 for their lawyers. Wonder if Pope Francis will have a comment on this case.

[PeaceNikki]

1. The RCC and the Milwaukee Archdiocese have been criminals in their cover ups and lies

Unless and until the pope takes massive actions against the millions hidden from victims and paid out TO abusers, his words MEAN NOTHING.

[rurallib]

2. As one of those abused (not from Milwaukee)

it is hard to have any sympathy for the church - especially after they used every legal trick they could to deny responsibility.

[SidDithers]

3. But Pope Photo-Op drives a Renault!!...nt

Sid

[PeaceNikki]

4. kicking again cuz "teh pope is awesum" threads get a ton of attention

But the abuse, lies, cover-ups and deceit of the entire organization are poo-pooed.