KY Diocese to Set Up $120 Million for Abuse Victims (largest settlement)

[DeepModem Mom]

New York Times:
Kentucky Diocese to Set Up $120 Million for Abuse Victims
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 4, 2005


COVINGTON, Ky., June 3 (AP) - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington agreed on Friday to set up a $120 million fund to compensate victims of child-molesting priests and other employees. The sum is the biggest settlement in the scandal that has staggered the Catholic church in the United States.

The settlement, which is subject to approval by a state judge, would bring to a close a class-action suit filed on behalf of more than 100 victims. It accuses the diocese of a 50-year cover-up of sexual abuse by priests and others.

"After personally meeting with more than 70 victims, I am painfully aware that no amount of money can compensate for the harm these victims suffered as innocent children," Bishop Roger J. Foys wrote in a statement. "Nevertheless, I pray that this settlement will bring some measure of peace and healing to victims and their loved ones."

The victims will be grouped in four categories based on the severity of abuse. The compensation will range from $5,000 to $450,000 a person, before lawyers' fees are deducted.

"The additional anxiety and stress that would have occurred to the victims had there been a trial has been eliminated," the plaintiffs' lead lawyer, Stan Chesley, said....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/04/national/04kentucky.html

[Roland99]

1. "before lawyer's fees are deducted"

Hmm....

I still think lawyers' percentage takes should be a sliding scale based upon the size of the award.

[RPM]

2. progressively or regressively?

I am assuming the latter - so that on a $1M settlement the lawyer would get 30%, but on a $10M settlement the lawyer would get, say, 15%.

Tell me more about your idea - it seems interesting...

[Roland99]

4. Yes, regressively

Take the tobacco settlement, for instance. Law firms pocketed HUNDREDS of millions of dollars. Sure, they did a lot of work but, good grief! They made more money off that case than most corporations make in a year. Think of the benefits to the states that half of that could have done yet the law firms still would have made some serious cash.


Check out this brief article.
http://www.cato.org/dailys/1-27-98.html

[unhappycamper]

3. My condolences to the KY Catholics going through this

difficult time.

The Bernie Law Boston Pedophilia express has set the Boston Diocese back a hundred years. Ratzi the Nazi was the policy maker in the Vatican that allowed this to go on as long as it did.

God is pretty big bu$ine$$. To get the attention of the big guy$, vote with your dollars. It's the only thing they understand.