A $323 million settlement was reached today between the Rockland Diocese and hundreds of sexual abuse survivors, bringing the four-year-long legal battle to an end. The case was decided in bankruptcy court rather than civil court, as the Diocese declared itself insolvent in 2020 after a change in New York State law removed barriers that kept victims from coming forward.
The wave of cases against the church came about after the passage of the Child Victims Act in 2019, which allowed child victims in New York to pursue civil cases against abusers until the age of 55, more than double the previous age limit of 23, or criminal cases until the age of 28. Most relevant to this case was the portion of the bill that included a 1-year window during which survivors of any age could pursue legal action, regardless of how much time had passed since the abuse had taken place. That window was extended to 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cases related to this settlement went as far back as 1957, when the Diocese was founded.
“It brings long-awaited justice to 600 survivors, 100 of whom my firm was proud to represent,” said Adam Slater, founding and managing partner of Slater Slater Shulman LLP. “It represents the largest diocesan settlement in New York State and largest settlement involving a diocese in bankruptcy nationwide.” Another attorney who represented the official committee abuse survivors, James Stang, lauded his clients for their courage in coming forward, saying that they “epitomized the human spirit that could not be quashed by abuse that they suffered, some as young as four years old.”
The Diocese was offering $200 million last year as its “best and final offer,” according to the Catholic News Agency. Newsday reported that lawyers for the survivors countered with $450 million, before both sides agreed to the final figure of $323 million. The Long Island paper also said that attorneys’ fees in this case have topped $100 million.
The Rockland Diocese sold off its headquarters and 200 acres of land to help pay for the settlement, and has required its 134 parishes to contribute as well, although exact figures of how much is being contributed by each are unknown. According to the settlement, $234.8 million will be paid by the Diocese directly and $85 million will be put up by insurance, with payments beginning next year.
The settlement is one of the largest awarded to victims of abuse from the Catholic Church, and follows another landmark case across the country, as the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to a settlement that topped $1.5 billion in October. The Rockland Diocese is one of six across New York State that have declared bankruptcy, with only the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn still solvent.
