Archdiocese, victims to settle clergy abuse cases, reports say, by Melanie Sommer, Rich Kupchella's Bring Me News (October 13, 2014)

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is expected to announce Monday a settlement to a clergy abuse lawsuit that was scheduled to go to trial in just a few weeks, according to reports from the Star Tribune and KARE 11.

They quote sources who say that lawyers for the archdiocese, the Diocese of Winona and the plaintiff’s attorney Jeff Anderson will outline terms of the settlement to a Ramsey County judge Monday morning – then make the details public at an afternoon news conference.

Sources quoted by the St. Paul Pioneer Press said the agreement not only settles the lawsuit that’s meant to go to trial on Nov. 3, but also covers hundreds of others who have also alleged they were sexually abused by clergy.

In addition to any financial settlements, the agreement will establish a new court-monitored protocol for handling allegations of sexual abuse against priests, according to KARE.

Anderson announced via Twitter Sunday evening that he would join archdiocesan officials and abuse victims at a news conference Monday, but included no other details.

"Historic child protection plan to be announced by Jeff, survivors and Archdiocese officials tomorrow, 1:00PM Landmark Center in St. Paul.

"Tomorrow at 1PM Jeff will stand with survivors and Archdiocese officials at the Landmark Center announcing new child protection protocols.

1:48 AM - 13 Oct 2014 "

“This feels to me like a new way and a new day,” Anderson told the Pioneer Press Sunday evening. “There is a strict difference between policy and protocol and action, but they (Archdiocese officials) are committed to working with us than against us.”

The plaintiff in the case at hand, known in court documents as Doe 1, sued the Twin Cities archdiocese and the Diocese of Winona last year, claiming he was sexually abused by Rev. Thomas Adamson during the late 1970s. Adamson worked at churches in both the Winona diocese and the Twin Cities archdiocese.

The suit contends church leaders put children at risk by transferring Adamson from parish to parish without alerting parishioners to his previous behavior.

The lawsuit has led to the release of thousands of internal church documents involving clergy sex abuse allegations, as well as sworn testimony from several top church officials about how they handled clergy abuse cases.

In a deposition released in June, Adamson, now 80, testified that he remembered having sexual contact with at least 10 children, but was uncertain what the exact number might be.

The first portion of the trial was scheduled to begin Nov. 3 in Ramsey County Circuit Court.

Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens and Vicar General Charles Lachowitzer of the St. Paul Archdiocese are expected to join Anderson and some of the victims at the Monday afternoon news conference, according to the Pioneer Press.