MINNESOTA
Star Tribune
By Jean Hopfensperger Star Tribune DECEMBER 3, 2015
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has spent $3.3 million on lawyers’ and professional fees in recent months, bringing to at least $5 million the costs incurred this year by attorneys handling the church’s bankruptcy and related clergy abuse issues.
At a court hearing Thursday, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Kressel approved payments for dozens of law firm staffers who are addressing the archdiocese’s deep troubles, including its financial reorganization and related parish claims, its 400-plus clergy abuse claims and two abuse cases pending with the Ramsey County attorney’s office.
Most of the work was done between June and October.
Kressel listened as attorney after attorney explained why his firm should be paid from the archdiocese estate. While saying he appreciates the work being done to advance the archdiocese’s financial reorganization, Kressel reminded the attorneys that he ordered the case to mediation specifically “to save money and speed up the process.”
Acting Archbishop Bernard Hebda said the complexity of the case is a big reason for the legal fees.
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