Lawsuits involving the Catholic Church and allegations of sexual abuse are not new. With a rise in allegations in the 1990s, it seems like they haven’t stopped since then. While the rates of more recent allegations have dropped, allegations from decades in the past have continued, resulting in more and more survivors of clergy abuse finding justice. When cases like this are settled, it often garners national attention and can encourage other survivors to come forward.
Many states have adjusted the statute of limitations for civil cases relating to child sexual abuse, allowing more time for survivors to come forward. If you are a survivor and considering speaking out or seeking justice for your abuse, you may benefit from speaking with a Michigan clergy sex abuse lawyer to determine your options.
Los Angeles Catholic Church Settlement
The records of settlements paid out by the Catholic Church nationally are publicly available. The Bishop Accountability database provides a list of settlements and monetary awards in civil suits showing that the Los Angeles Diocese settled its first claim as early as 1991 for ignoring allegations in 1981. The records also show that the LA Catholic Church has paid out the highest numbers of any other diocese nationwide.
In October 2024, the media reported that the church had agreed to an $880 million settlement. According to ABC7 Eyewitness News, this payment would be made to the plaintiffs in this lawsuit and will be the largest single settlement paid out by the Catholic Church to date. The 1,353 plaintiffs in this lawsuit currently comprise most of those with open lawsuits, meaning most cases against the Catholic Church will be settled when this amount is paid.
One of the many factors that increased the settlement amount beyond the large number of plaintiffs is an allowance for increased damages under certain circumstances. If the abuse perpetrated on a child was at the hand of a clergy member who had prior complaints that were covered up, that victim may be entitled to three times the standard damage amount. Given that many of the concerns of abuse were related to the LA Catholic Church’s habit of brushing complaints under the rug, this led to substantial increases.
Settlement Conditions
In many settlements, there may be nonmonetary conditions for acceptance by both parties. One report from National Public Radio (NPR) states that one condition of this settlement is that the Diocese must release records of the known offenders. This should include offenders who may not have been known until this case.
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Allegations Against Clergy in the LA Catholic Church
The number of sexual abuse allegations against the LA Catholic Church is nearly unthinkable. While the settlement details are not generally accessible, we can surmise that there are at least 1,353 to account for that many plaintiffs. In a statement on the LA Catholics FAQ page regarding AB218 lifting the statute of limitations, it is estimated that around 1900 claims named the LA Diocese in their accusations.
To further our understanding of the scope of the issue, we can consider information provided by the bishop accountability database, which shares the names of 374 clergy members who have been accused. Among the nearly 400 accused clergy members, the database shows more than 30 convictions of abuse. Nearly 150 of those listed on the list of accused were on the receiving end of a lawsuit, with many of those being among the settlements paid out by the LA Diocese previously.
Additionally, the Bishop Accountability Database shows that the accused commonly perpetrate sexual abuse over a timeframe of years. Complaints of abuse state that some clergy members abused one or two children on an ongoing basis for years. In some cases, survivors report that multiple clergy members perpetrated their abuse.
Coverups in the LA Diocese
Investigations have revealed situations prompting significant concerns regarding the LA diocese engaging in coverups to protect their clergy members and silence those they abused. This ranges from reassigning clergy members, such as in the case of Fr. Edmund Austin.
Other problems stem from failing to address complaints or completely ignoring them, as is suspected in the case of Fr. Luis William, where the Diocese documented a complaint four years into his tenure with no documented recourse.
Survivor Perspective
As a society, we can easily look at the nearly $900 million and feel a sense of relief and victory for those affected—the NPR page cited above addresses some of the plaintiffs’ thoughts. As we can imagine, there are mixed feelings.
Many plaintiffs feel that they have some degree of closure by receiving the acknowledgment of what happened to them. Too many of the victims are revisiting abuse that happened decades ago, making them happy that they see justice before the end of their lives and have something to leave to their families when they pass. For others who have been living with this abuse and the lifelong effects, no amount of money will make it feel right.
The specific amounts that each plaintiff expects have not been released, but we know that some parties will receive a life-changing amount of money. While this ends the majority of current lawsuits against the Diocese, we know that it regularly takes people years to come to terms with what happened to them and disclose their abuse, whether for the first time or third time. This delay means that we may see more lawsuits as the years progress.
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Breaking the Silence
Clergy sexual abuse against children leaves lasting scars when a child can quickly report the abuse to a trusted adult. When a clergy sex abuse victim is unable to receive help quickly, it can alter the entire route of their life. The way sexual abuse has permeated the LA Catholic Church is just another reason that breaking the silence can be so challenging and vital.
At White Law PLLC., we understand that these cases can be challenging, and the choice to pursue it is deeply personal. If you feel that you may be ready to take the next step in legal action against your clergy sexual abuser, please take time to explore our testimonials and learn a little bit more about our firm.
When you are ready, you can contact us for a free case evaluation to discuss your options with a team that understands the only blame for your abuse lies with the person who abused you.
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