Judge's Ruling Provides a Brief, Temporary Window for Some Additional Claims to be Filed in Diocese's Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Following the passage of a new law extending the time for certain victims of sexual abuse and assault to file lawsuits, United States Bankruptcy Court Judge Wendy Kinsella set a new filing for those sexually abused as adults (ages 18+) by a member or the clergy or a lay employee of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse in New York. The judge's ruling will allow additional filings for adult sex abuse claims for a limited time, thought the new deadline has not yet been set. The Court previously ordered all such claims to be filed by April 15, 2021. Now, all claims pertaining to adults must be filed by January 17, 2023.
The Diocese of Syracuse, which operates Catholic Churches in New York's Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego counties, filed its petition seeking relief under Chapter 11 on June 19, 2020. The Diocese faced more than 400 lawsuits filed by alleged victims of child sex abuse under New York's Child Victims Act in 2020 and 2021. Negotiations are ongoing between the Diocese, its insurers, and the Tort Claimants Committee to develop a plan to resolve the bankruptcy and provide adequate compensation to claimants.
On May 24, 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed New York's Adult Survivors Act (ASA), which gives survivors of adult sexual abuse (who were 18 or older when their abuse occurred) a year to file their claims, regardless of when the offense occurred. The one-year window opens on November 24, 2022. Because the Diocese filed for Chapter 11 protection, it will be immune from additional lawsuit filings, but the new deadline to be set by Judge Kinsella will provide a temporary opportunity for additional bankruptcy claims to be filed.
The new filing deadline is January 17, 2023. If you believe that you are eligible to file a claim because you were sexually abused or assaulted in the Diocese of Syracuse as an adult, contact our attorneys for a free, confidential consultation now. This will be your very last chance to seek justice and accountability if you were sexually abused or assaulted as an adult in the Diocese of Syracuse.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in New York, contact our office today. In October 2020, the Rockville Centre Diocese filed for federal bankruptcy protection. The Court will resolve all claims of sexual abuse in this process but strict filing deadlines will apply and no late claims will be considered, so contact us today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in New York and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.