Abuse victims ask court to dismiss New Orleans Archdiocese bankruptcy

NEW ORLEANS (LA)
WWL 4 CBS

July 6, 2020

By David Hammer

The victims say the Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy to block lawsuits rather than because they are having severe money issues.

Victims of alleged child sex abuse by priests are asking a federal judge to throw out the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ bankruptcy case, saying the Church filed for the legal protection in “bad faith” as a way to block their lawsuits rather than for a legitimate financial need.

At least 34 abuse lawsuits have been halted by the local Church’s decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection May 1. Another half dozen cases filed since then are also on hold pending the bankruptcy.

Last week, the Archdiocese filed a motion in the bankruptcy case asking the court to bar any new abuse claims starting Sept. 29. A committee of attorneys representing the Church’s unsecured creditors, mostly the alleged abuse victims, came right back with a motion late Friday to dismiss the Archdiocese’s bankruptcy case completely, a move that would help pending abuse claims move forward.

In their motion to dismiss, the creditors said the bankruptcy was filed as a “litigation tactic” just as many abuse victims had asked the courts to release internal Church documents and force top archdiocesan officials to testify under oath.

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