November 15, 2024 Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel clients welcomed a landmark $880 million settlement that resolves more than 1,300 sex abuse lawsuits filed by individuals who were victimized by priests and other adults within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
“It’s impossible to truly make amends for the trauma of child abuse, but this settlement is a recognition of the harm done and a chance for survivors to begin the process of healing,” said Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel partner Susan Ulrich, who represents several sex assault victims who are part of the historic litigation.
The settlement marks the largest single payout by any archdiocese in the United States and brings the total amount paid out by the Los Angeles Archdiocese in sex abuse lawsuits to more than $1.5 billion.
New Law Provided More Time for Abuse Victims to Come Forward
In 2019, California enacted a law that allowed victims to file lawsuits based on past instances of sexual abuse involving minors, even if the statute of limitations had expired. The subsequent lawsuits led large Catholic organizations across the country to file for bankruptcy protection. However, the Los Angeles Archdiocese was able to reach a settlement without resorting to bankruptcy.
The Los Angeles Archdiocese includes more than four million Catholics and almost 300 parishes. The settlement is a significant step towards healing the wounds caused by the abuse and holding the church accountable for its actions.
Victims will be paid from the archdiocese’s cash reserves, investments, loans and contributions. According to Archbishop José H. Gomez, the payments will not affect the archdiocese’s mission of serving the poor and vulnerable in the community.
“I am sorry for every one of these incidents, from the bottom of my heart,” Archbishop Gomez said in a statement. “My hope is that this settlement will provide some measure of healing for what these men and women have suffered.”
The settlement tops the previous high for a diocese, from 2007, when L.A. agreed to pay $660 million in lawsuits brought by 508 people
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