Roman Catholic Archdiose shells out $660 million to settle sex-abuse claims

Niber · 07-17-2007, 06:12 AM

Quote:

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A judge on Monday approved a $660 million settlement between the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and more than 500 alleged victims of clergy abuse, the largest payout yet in a nationwide sex abuse scandal.

Lee Bashforth says the church settled at the last minute to avoid a public trial.

Some of the plaintiffs sobbed as the deal was formally approved and a moment of silence was held for others who had died during the years of negotiations.

"This is the right result," said Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Haley Fromholz.

"Settling the cases was the right thing to do, and it was done by dint of a number of extremely talented and dedicated people putting in an awful lot of time."

The deal came after more than five years of negotiations and is by far the largest payout by any diocese since the clergy abuse scandal emerged in Boston in 2002.

The individual payouts will vary according to the severity and duration of the abuse alleged. The plaintiffs' attorneys are expected to receive up to 40 percent of the settlement.

LINK

Attorneys are expected to receive up to 40% of the settlement? What the hell! [insert politically incorrect joke here]

I also heard that the reason the church settled is because they didn't want to open up their books and reveal the churches income if it went to trial.

Morara · 07-17-2007, 06:16 AM

I don't understand why this didn't become a major issue until a few years ago. I remember standup comedy routines making fun of priests molesting altar boys back in the 80s. Why wait 20 years (or a lot more)?

Jonny · 07-17-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niber

Attorneys are expected to receive up to 40% of the settlement? What the hell! [insert politically incorrect joke here

So the boys got fucked twice, eh?

Aarinak · 07-17-2007, 11:28 AM

Yeah I'm a Catholic... kinda embarassing that some of our own priests cant keep their hands to themselves

Rinion · 07-17-2007, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niber

Attorneys are expected to receive up to 40% of the settlement? What the hell! [insert politically incorrect joke here]

thats probably a pretty standard fee when you take into consideration just how many lawyers were used for that many clients.

im sure its not 40% of each individual's setlement, but 40% off the top split between all the lawyers, for the time(years?) they have been working on this case.

Niber · 07-17-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rinion

thats probably a pretty standard fee when you take into consideration just how many lawyers were used for that many clients.

im sure its not 40% of each individual's setlement, but 40% off the top split between all the lawyers, for the time(years?) they have been working on this case.

A lot of lawyers (especially federal) will charge a flat fee or an hourly fee payable on settlement or completion of the case. These lawyers must have been licking their chops knowing they were getting a cut around the 40% mark.

Savanja · 07-17-2007, 07:08 PM

Man o man! Is it too late to claim that I was a little Catholic boy molested by priests?

Thats the sort of case that many lawyers would take on contingency hoping for the big payout, and looks like they scored.

winwin · 07-18-2007, 12:15 AM

Oi... I was raised Roman Catholic. I'm not even Christian, I found my home elsewhere... but... ugh. And I haven't heard the word archdiocese in YEARS. Goodness.

Idolvo · 07-18-2007, 02:17 PM

This is exactly why I can't stand christiaans, only reason they didn't go through is because people would find out how much money they get.

After the tsunami in asia a couple of years back the pope (the new hitler fanboy one) said "Be generous to these people" a.k.a. Give em all you got.

Money contributed by the church: $0.-, reason? because all the money they have is "donated" and they aren't allowed to spend it. (Well, exept on lawyer fee's!)

Fuck the church, and fuck religion to. (And keep youre kids away from em)

Aarinak · 07-20-2007, 01:08 AM

Fuck you I like my religion.. /hug catholicism