Archdiocese Files New Round of Objections to Block Sex Abuse Claims

By Annysa Johnson
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
April 26, 2012

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/149128065.html?page=1#!page=1&viewAll=0&sort=newestfirst

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has filed a new round of motions in its bankruptcy case in an effort to throw out certain claims filed by individuals who say they were molested as children by clergy or others associated with the archdiocese.

The motions were filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court court this week. The legal basis for the objections are not known because the motions themselves are sealed under a broad court order that requires attorneys to file anything that mentions the names of victims under seal. Attorneys on both sides have declined to comment on requests for general information about the claims. A status hearing to discuss the possibility of releasing redacted motions is scheduled for Wednesday.

It is a second round of claims objections aimed at limiting the number of victim-survivors who would qualify for any settlement that results from the bankruptcy. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Susan V. Kelley issued a split decision in the prior round, rejecting a claim in which the victim had a prior settlement agreement with the archdiocese; and sending to the federal district court two others the archdiocese claimed were beyond the statute of limitations, saying that would have to be decided at trial. Appeals are pending in all of the rulings.

Decisions in favor of the archdiocese could result in the dismissal of the vast majority of claims filed by sex abuse survivors.