A federal bankruptcy court judge has ordered all sexual abuse claims against the Diocese of Norwich in Connecticut to be filed no later than March 15, 2022. This is a strict filing deadline referred to as a “bar date” because all claims against the Diocese of Norwich will be forever barred after that date.
The Diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2021 as it faced more than 60 lawsuits filed by young men who charge they were sexually assaulted as boys by Christian Brothers and other staff at the diocese-run Mount Saint John Academy in Deep River from 1990 to 2002. Mount Saint John was a residential school for troubled boys whose board of directors was headed by retired Bishop of Norwich Daniel Reilly. Since then, additional people whose sexual assault allegations involved not only Mount Saint John but Diocesan churches have filed claims in the bankruptcy case.
Horowitz Law is representing survivors of abuse throughout the Diocese of Norwich.
Contrary to what you might think, a bankruptcy filing does not mean the Diocese of Norwich is broke: it means the Diocese is asking for the Bankruptcy Court for help resolving the rest of the sexual abuse claims against it. Its assets will be allocated among all of its creditors, including an unknown number of sexual abuse claimants who file claims by March 15, 2022.
It is also a means by which a Catholic Diocese can continue to protect itself and its secrets, and, for that reason it is often criticized by survivor advocates and attorneys. The Diocese of Norwich will not likely have to publicize any priest personnel files as part of this process, for example.
Through our own investigation at Horowitz Law, we have identified at least 58 clergy who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing children in the Diocese of Norwich.
The March 15, 2022, filing is referred to as a “bar date” by the Bankruptcy Court because the Diocese will be forever immune from suit in any sexual abuse claim not filed by that date. Survivors will never again have any chance for accountability after March 15, 2022, so it is critically important that you contact a lawyer today if you were harmed by an employee or volunteer in the Diocese of Norwich, including laypeople and teachers. This also applies anyone sexually abused as an adult and the estates of deceased victims.
The March 15, 2022, deadline is a strict filing deadline set by the Court and will not likely be extended by the Court for any reason. Therefore, you should contact us immediately for a free and confidential consultation about your legal options as a survivor of abuse in the Norwich Diocese.
Our attorneys have decades of experience representing victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Contact us confidentially now.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Norwich in Connecticut. The Diocese of Norwich filed for federal bankruptcy protection in July 2021. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss your legal options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the Diocese of Norwich.
Very strict filing deadlines have now been set by the Bankruptcy Court. Most victims of abuse will never be able to recover damages if they miss this deadline, so please contact us to discuss your case today. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to [email protected].