The most recent period of scandal involving Catholic clergy and the sexual abuse of minors began after the reporting of the Boston Globe in 2002. The daily barrage of investigative articles on numerous priests of the Archdiocese of Boston engaging in criminal abuse of children…
Last week, the former prince of the Catholic Church, Theodore McCarrick appeared in a Dedham MA criminal court room to answer charges that he had sexually molested a minor boy 50 years ago. As expected, he pled not guilty. The presiding judge ordered $5,000 bail,…
This week, criminal charges were filed against disgraced and defrocked Theodore McCarrick for incidents that began in 1974 in Massachusetts. The sexual abuse of the then 16-year-old began at a wedding reception in Massachusetts where the survivor lived with his family. McCarrick faces 3 counts…
Last month, Louisiana Governor Bel Edwards signed into law House Bill 492 abolishing the statute of limitations for any abuse survivor under the age of 28. Those over 28 will have a three-year “lookback window” to reconcile their existing cases. Rep. Jason Hughes (D-New Orleans)…
The federal bankruptcy proceedings governing the Diocese of Rochester and its 485 creditors, most of whom are priest abuse survivors, has been stalled for months as lawyers for both sides wrangle over insurance coverage and the actual assets of the Diocese. A July 9, 2021…
The Judge handling the coordinated Clergy childhood sex abuse cases in Los Angeles and Orange Counties ruled on June 11, 2021 that California Statute, CCP 340.1(b)(1) is unconstitutionally vague and that it violates the ex post facto clauses of the state and federal constitutions. The…
The Diocese of Rochester has formally submitted its request to a bankruptcy judge for approval of its $35 million plan to resolve sexual abuse claims in bankruptcy court. In a statement issued Friday afternoon, the diocese said the proposed agreement was with Lloyd’s of London…
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has encouraged insurers to pay evacuation expenses for those affected by Hurricane Ida. Last month, the storm battered the state, causing billions of dollars in damage and killing dozens of people. Thousands of Louisiana residents chose to drive away from…
In a newly filed paraquat lawsuit, a Michigan man claims to have developed Parkinson’s disease after being exposed to the herbicide. He blames the manufacturers for his condition and seeks compensatory and punitive damages. The case is now pending in the U.S. District Court for…
In June 2021, one plaintiff involved in a Philips CPAP lawsuit filed a motion with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) to consolidate all federally filed Philips cases into the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for pre-trial proceedings. Philips North America LLC filed a…
