PORTLAND (OR)
OregonLive
11/15/2005, 12:36 p.m. PT
By WILLIAM McCALL
The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Archdiocese of Portland has proposed placing an overall $40 million limit on damages that can be paid to alleged victims of priest sex abuse as part of its bankruptcy organization plan, an attorney for victims said Tuesday.
The proposed limit is a fraction of more than $400 million that is being sought by people who say they were abused by priests.
David Slader, an attorney for alleged victims, contended the proposed reorganization plan would pit victims against each other for a share of the settlement money and allow the church to cover up most of the abuse by avoiding public trials.
"This plan, which has taken a year and a half to put together, is a step backwards," Slader said.
He noted that nearly $9 million would go to claims already settled but not yet paid, leaving only about $32 million to share among more than 100 pending claims.