BishopAccountability.org
	Priest-Abuse Case Closed By Kevin Kelly Cincinnati Enquirer May 28, 2009 http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090528/NEWS0107/905290359/Priest-abuse+case+closed BURLINGTON - The class-action lawsuit between sexual-abuse victims and the Diocese of Covington ended Thursday in Boone Circuit Court. The case was settled for $84 million in 2005. All victims who received awards have been paid in full and have signed releases acknowledging payment and releasing their claims, according to Circuit Judge Robert McGinnis' final order of dismissal. In the document filed Thursday, McGinnis wrote that the diocese and Bishop Roger Foys had fulfilled all of their obligations under the settlement agreement and that no further claims would be accepted. "The Diocese and Bishop Foys are very pleased and satisfied that we could bring this case to such an amicable resolution," Diocesan attorney Carrie Huff said. "The entire process, from the time we were able to forge a settlement, has been completely cooperative, respectful and afforded confidentiality to the claimants. That was very important." There were 400 submitted claims of priest sex abuse tracing back decades and 252 victims received awards up to $1 million, said attorney Bob Steinberg, who with Stan Chesley represented the victims as class counsel. The remaining 148 were denied settlement money because their claims could not be substantiated, Steinberg said. "I think the process as it was described in court today was meticulously orchestrated so that people had multiple chances to submit additional evidence...if their claim was denied," Huff said. "I think the judge was satisfied that the process was forgiving in the extreme and gave people every opportunity." Steinberg said the case was a historical one that produced a unique result. "We're very pleased and proud of the way the case was handled and the excellent result that was obtained," Steinberg said. "It allowed these people to receive substantial awards yet keep their names and circumstances confidential." Steinberg said there is settlement money remaining in two separate funds. One fund is to pay mental health treatment expenses for any victim of child sexual abuse in the diocese whether or not they were involved in the case, he said. The second fund, for people who were abused as minors after October 1980, will go on until 2015, he said. A final audit report was submitted Wednesday, Steinberg said. "It's a sad story but I think we're all very pleased with the way it came out," Huff said. "That includes class counsel and me."
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.