MINNESOTA
Star Tribune
Article by: JEAN HOPFENSPERGER , Star Tribune Updated: April 16, 2015
Archdiocese wants all abuse claims filed by Aug. 3. Victim’s attorneys say abuse survivors should get full time allotted by law.
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will ask a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge Thursday morning to shorten the time frame available for victims of priest sex abuse to submit claims.
When the state Legislature temporarily lifted the statute of limitations on older abuse claims, the so-called Minnesota Child Victim’s Act set the claims deadline for May 25, 2016. The archdiocese is asking the court to shorten that window to Aug. 3, 2015.
The archdiocese argues that victims have been sufficiently notified of the opportunity to file claims against the church, because of widespread publicity surrounding the abuse lawsuits. It also notes that having an earlier cutoff date will allow it to proceed with its financial reorganization.
“Establishing bar dates for parties to file claims in this case is critical to allow the Archdiocese to proceed with a reorganization plan and avoid protracted proceedings that could deplete the Archdiocese’s assets available to pay sexual abuse claimants and other creditors,” the archdiocese wrote in court documents.
Attorneys for victims strongly opposed the move.
The request “is unprecedented in church bankruptcy cases and also unwarranted,” wrote victims’ attorney Jeff Anderson in court documents.
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