BishopAccountability.org
	Stay on Delaware Clergy Abuse Suits Extended to End of Year News Journal September 25, 2010 http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100925/NEWS01/9250349/1006/NEWS At a status conference Friday in the bankruptcy case of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, a judge extended a stay on dozens of priest abuse lawsuits until at least Dec. 31. However, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Sontchi said that if any of the abuse survivors wish to challenge that delay, the burden will be on the Diocese of Wilmington to prove why it should be continued. Attorneys for the diocese argued that the hold should be continued on the lawsuits now that a Chapter 11 reorganization plan, filed Thursday, is being considered by the court. All of the approximately 73 lawsuits involved in Friday's stay are against individual parishes -- which are considered to be separate business entities from the diocese. An automatic stay continues for all lawsuits that name the diocese as a defendant. Last month, Sontchi allowed a handful of lawsuits naming parishes to go forward to trial -- set for later this fall -- after a hearing at which several abuse survivors argued they would be harmed by additional delays. The reorganization plan that was released by the diocese this week was not discussed in court, beyond Sontchi mentioning that he expects attorneys representing abuse survivors to vigorously contest it.
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