Archdiocese of New York, clergy abuse survivors reach $800M settlement
The agreement, confirmed Saturday by Archbishop Ronald Hicks, is considered the second-largest settlement involving clergy sexual abuse claims against a Catholic archdiocese in the U.S.
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Survivors of clergy sexual abuse have agreed to an $800 million settlement with the Archdiocese of New York, resolving claims brought by about 1,300 survivors, according to attorneys representing the victims.
The agreement, confirmed Saturday by Archbishop Ronald Hicks, is considered the second-largest settlement involving clergy sexual abuse claims against a Catholic archdiocese in the U.S.
The settlement, unanimously approved by survivors who filed claims against the archdiocese, follows more than seven years of litigation stemming from cases brought under New York's Child Victims Act, which opened a window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits that had been barred by statutes of limitations.
"While it feels like a relief, it still comes with residual stress and sadness. I’m still grieving for my 15-year-old self. That he went through such trauma and lived with it for 50 years is still painful. It took trust and courage in me that I never realized I had," said a survivor who did not want to be identified.
Although the settlement plan has been approved, several legal and administrative steps remain before funds can be distributed to survivors, according to Jeff Anderson & Associates, which represents the claimants.
"The unanimous agreement of survivors who filed claims against the Archdiocese of New York marks a powerful moment in the pursuit of justice," attorney Jeff Anderson said in a statement.
The settlement follows months of negotiations between the Archdiocese of New York and the Plaintiffs' Liaison Committee, which represents survivors in the litigation. The parties established a settlement framework in May and spent the past 10 months working toward a final agreement.
"Many people who undergo this kind of childhood trauma do not speak about it. And when they do, the average age of disclosure is 55. So, survivors are often carrying this shame and trauma alone for decades before they're at a point where they can talk about it," said Trusha Goffee, an attorney with Jeff Anderson & Associates.
Attorneys said the negotiations helped avoid a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by the archdiocese while providing a path toward compensation for survivors.
The Archdiocese is home to about 300 churches, including several in the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley.
AP Wire contributed to this report.
