GREAT FALLS (MT)
Montana Public Radio

August 15, 2018

By Edward O’Brien

A federal bankruptcy judge has approved a plan for the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings to pay $20 million to 86 people who said clergy sexually assaulted them when they were children. The bankruptcy plan was approved Tuesday in Butte.

The Washington-based Tamaki Law office represents 36 of the abuse victims. Attorney Vito de la Cruz says Judge Jim Pappas’ final order provides at least some closure to the abuse survivors he represents.

“It is an acknowledgment by the Church that they were victimized. It is an acknowledgment that the Church had responsibility in that victimization. It provides closure for many folks.”

The Eastern Montana diocese filed for bankruptcy in March of 2017, just months before the first jury trials of sex abuse victims were set to begin.