SPRINGFIELD (MA)
Republican
Thursday, June 16, 2005
By BILL ZAJAC
wzajac@repub.com
SPRINGFIELD - Hoping it will lead to settlements of outstanding clergy sexual abuse claims, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield filed legal action this week against its insurance carriers.
The diocese filed a declaratory judgment action against seven insurance carriers in Hampden Superior Court Tuesday, two days before diocesan and claimants' lawyers meet today in court to provide a status report on unresolved clergy abuse suits.
Although the diocese settled claims with 46 claimants last year, another 30 claims were left unresolved.
The diocese is "asking that the court determine the obligations of our insurance carriers to reimburse the diocese for past settlements of sexual abuse claims and determine responsibility for payment of future claims," according to a press release from the diocese. "The Diocese and the insurance companies have had multiple discussions to try to resolve these matters without the necessity of involving the courts."