Leslie C. Griffin*
Roman Polanski is a famous movie director and actor, known for directing the films Rosemary’s Baby and Chinatown. He left the United States for France in 1978, after he pled guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl, Samantha Geimer. He worried that the judge in that case would give him a 50-year sentence instead of a shorter-term plea bargain.[1]
California opened a three-year window, from 2020-2022, that allowed survivors to file lawsuits starting January 1, 2020.[2] The change in the statute of limitations meant Polanski was sued in 2023 by another victim of child sexual assault in Los Angeles. The victim, Jane Doe, says Polanski gave her tequila and raped her in 1973, when she was 16 years old.[3] At his California home, he gave her tequila shots, and when she woke up he said he was going to have sex with her. She said “no”, but he took off her clothes and raped her.[4] That case was supposed to go to trial, but instead the parties settled on undisclosed terms.[5] Doe’s lawyer, Gloria Allred, said “the terms had been ‘agreed to by the parties to their mutual satisfaction.’” [6]
Both young boys and young girls faced abuse. Settlement negotiations are one of the options for survivors of sexual abuse. It prevents their claim from being litigated at trial, and sometimes holds the abusers and their employers accountable. This post tells you about Catholic California settlements on sexual abuse claims. I include California’s archdioceses of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and the dioceses of Fresno, Monterey, Oakland, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Rosa, and Stockton. The number of settlements is incredible, and I’ve probably missed a few. The attached Excel document shows you the range of settlements by archdiocese and diocese. The number of settlements reveals the scope of the abuse.
Early Settlements
California opened the courts in 2002 to more abusers, creating a one-year revival window allowing cases that were previously closed to victims by the statutes of limitations. That was a big moment in California law. Yet there were settlements before that. Sex abuse is ongoing, and victims consistently need compensation for their damages, as the early cases of sex abuse by clergymen demonstrate.
In 1985, Msgr. Rudolph Galindo paid $75,000 to a man who accused him of molestation as an altar boy. Galindo denied the allegation, but paid.[7] Later, in 2002, there was a terms-non-disclosed settlement between the diocese of San Diego and another former altar boy victim of Msgr. Rudolph Galindo. The award was in the mid-six figures. Two other men also accused Galindo of abuse when they were 9, 10, or 11 years old. The men came forward in 2001. [8]
In 1988, the Orange Diocese agreed to pay $54,720 to a boy who was molested by a priest at a Boy Scout trip. Father Robert Foley was the abuser. [9]
In early January 1991, the Orange Diocese paid unspecified damages to one victim of Father John Lenihan, a priest in Anaheim, who admitted sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl in 1978. Mary Staggs and her husband, Scott, accused Lenihan of molesting her when she was 13 to 18 years old. She repressed the memories until she saw a picture of Lenihan in the newspaper in 1989 and it reopened her memories. He was 32 when she was 15; he said he was in love with her. The statute of limitations had run on criminal charges. Staggs’ stepfather had complained to the Los Angeles Archdiocese in 1978 when Lenihan sent Staggs a love letter. Staggs said the church covered the abuse up.[10]
In 1994 in San Francisco, there was a settlement of cases involving Brother Salvatore Billante for $405,000. A lawsuit against Father Arthur Manuel Cunha was settled for $640,000. [11]
Monterey paid Sarah Wilgress $75,000 in 1995 to settle her claim; she agreed to silence and a waiver of future liability. Wilgress met Father Vincent Dwyer when she was 15 and he was 40. Yes, 15. The age is shocking for consent. They had a long affair across distances for many years, communicating by letter and seeing each other from time to time.[12]
On March 21, 1996, the Santa Rosa Diocese and the San Francisco Archdiocese paid $2,500,000 for abuse by three priests, Father Austin Patrick Keegan, Monsignor Patrick O’Shea, and Father Gary Timmons. There were 15 victims. The abuse occurred over 11 years (1969-1980), when the victims were 11 to 18 years old. Half of the settlement was covered by insurance and half by church funds.[13]
Holy Cross Brother Lawrence Sandstrom was accused of sexual misconduct by two boys; there was a settlement for both of them in 1996. “Brother Larry” sodomized them. One amount was $100,000 and the other one nondisclosed. One of his victims was later adopted and abused his new younger brothers. Claims against Sandstrom totaled $3 million. His files were hundreds of pages. Later, both boys received $1.5 million as part of the 2007 settlement.[14] In 2003 Rick Adair alleged sexual molestation that occurred in the late 1960s.
In 1997, the Santa Rosa Diocese settled claims of five men who alleged that Father Vincent O’Neill molested them when they were teenagers. The bishop agreed to send an apology letter to each victim. The settlement agreement had confidentiality provisions. The amount was not disclosed.[15]
On July 16, 1998, sex abuse claims against Stockton priest Oliver O’Grady finished litigating. The abuse occurred from 1978 to 1991. Victims Joh and James Howard said the church covered up O’Grady’s abuse. O’Grady was the boys’ family priest and molested four brothers. Only lawsuits for the two younger brothers proceeded because of the statute of limitations.[16] The jury verdict returned was $30 million, with $6 million in compensatory damages and $24 million in punitive. The case was ultimately settled for $7,650,000. Archbishop of Los Angeles Roger Mahony, who later dealt with many abuse cases, was then bishop of Stockton.
Jeremy Norton received a 1999 settlement of $95,000 for abuse in San Diego by a priest at St. Martin’s Church in 1985. Norton was forced to fondle the priest. The priest said Norton’s mother forced Norton to lie about the abuse. [17]
The Jesuits, who are a religious order in the church, settled cases with Will Lynch and his brother in 1998 for their abuse by Father Jerold Lindner. Each received $187,000 after legal fees. One brother alleged rape and the second oral sex. Lindner’s niece also settled for $786,000 for her uncle’s abuse of her. A camper received $1.5 million to settle her lawsuit. Will Lynch later attacked Lindner, leading to arguments whether he should be convicted or acquitted. [18]
Father Paul Valdez put his hand on the girl’s groin during a confession in 1999. She told her parents, but the school covered it up, and the police did not charge him. The parents sued the Monterey Diocese, and the case was quickly settled. The school’s nuns had embarrassed the girl and the other girls who faced similar conduct in class, and told them to remain silent.[19]
On March 9, 2000, four Santa Rosa victims entered into a settlement for $1,600,000 for misconduct by Father Donald Kimball. A nonmonetary award was also listed for Santa Rosa, with accused priest Kimball, on March 15, 2000.[20] The settlement was unusual because $500,000 of it went to build a program for survivors. The diocese also promised to write an apology letter and draft a sexual misconduct policy. A computer worker said Kimball had molested him when he was a teenager, and it had a lasting effect on him.[21]
In May 2000, claims against Father Michael S. Baker were settled for $1.3 million. The cost of the Baker payout was also shared with the Orange Diocese. The news story on these settlements does not reflect what was covered by insurance.[22]
In 2001, Los Angeles and Orange paid $5.2 million to plaintiff Ryan DiMaria for abuse by Msgr. Michael A. Harris. 11 nonmonetary terms are also included in the settlement. The nonmonetary were new discipline policies by the church, which DiMaria insisted on.[23] The nonmonetary also included monitoring, a toll-free phone number and Web site for abuse complaints, and interviews of students. A zero-tolerance policy was also forced on Archbishop Roger Mahony, which forced Mahony to remove seven priests. [24]
Mgsr. Harris was laicized in 2003 and was listed as an abuser by Los Angeles in 2004. [25] There were four other teenage boys involved in the lawsuit; they were David A. Price, at Mater Dei High School from 1979-1983; Lenora Colice, for her late son Vincent, who was at Mater Dei 1977-1979; Mark Curran, at Mater Dei 1979, and Larry Raheb, 1979. The other three students did not receive money from the lawsuit.[26]
In April 2002, Lori Capobianco Haigh sued Father John Lenihan and the dioceses for molestation when she was 14 to 17 years old. Incredibly, Haigh got pregnant and Lenihan gave her money for an abortion. Haigh also said Msgr. Lawrence Baird made sexual advances when she reported Lenihan’s abuse. The complaints against Baird were dismissed. Orange County paid $960,000 and Los Angeles the rest of their $1.2 million settlement for claims against Lenihan. Mary Grant is named as someone who had an earlier settlement of $25,000 against Lenihan.[27]
In June, 2002, $1,500,000 was paid to one victim of Clinton Hagenbach, a deceased priest.[28]
In 2002 Danielle Lacampagna explained how Father Daniel Carter touched her body under her pajamas when he visited her home. The church settled that lawsuit without admitting any guilt. In 2003, the Review Board said Lacampagna’s allegations were “unfounded,” and Carter went back to work with the church. [29]
In 2002, a civil lawsuit against him for abuse was settled with Society of Divine Word priest Joe Fertal and he was relocated to a sexual misconduct center. A civil lawsuit against him for abuse was settled. A 1994 rape case against a 16-year-old was dismissed for lack of evidence, and the civil suit settled. San Bernardino later rejected such secret settlements. [30]
In 2002, the Sacramento Diocese stated it had paid $1.3 million over the past thirty years to settle child abuse cases against its priests. An additional $450,000 was paid to people who were adults at the time of the abuse. Fourteen priests had been accused of abuse, but the claims were not substantiated in three of the cases. Father William Hold was now retired after abuse claims against him twenty years earlier. Father Michael Walsh was on leave for his abuse; there were two settlements for men who accused Walsh of sexually assaulting them.[31]
On September 4, 2002, the Los Gatos Jesuits paid $7,500,000 to two victims, known as John and James Doe, of four Jesuits. The Jesuits are the Society of Jesus, a religious order within the church. The two men were dishwashers who were abused for 30 years; they were mentally disabled and so easier to victimize. A local shop owner kept fighting for their rights to be protected. A victim’s acquaintance and a local shopkeeper made the allegations. Brother Charles Leonard Connor and Father Edward Thomas Burke were the abusers who were identified by name. Connor was convicted of a lewd act.[32]
A third payout to a victim of Father John Lenihan occurred in August, 2002. Margaret Cayer said Lenihan had an 18-month sexual relationship with her while he was counseling her and she was emotionally troubled. They met in hotel rooms and took nude pictures of one another. She said church leaders did nothing even though they knew about the abuse. Orange paid her $400,000.[33]
A 2002 Los Angeles Times story said under Cardinal Roger Mahony, the Los Angeles Archdiocese had “withheld information from police and allowed clerics facing prosecution to flee to foreign countries.” Oddly, Mahony had also “aggressive[ly]” removed many priests from service. [34] “The archdiocese has agreed to four out-of-court settlements totaling $9.2 million since 2000. The archdiocese’s share of the cost was $3.7 million. The agreements included confidentiality clauses to keep the sexual abuses secret.” [35]
2003 Opens the Statute of Limitations
Then the courts reopened to cases that had been barred under older statutes of limitations.
Catholic dioceses paid more than $1.2 billion to settle the 2003 cases, and released confidential documents that showed the church had been hiding the abusers from the courts. [36] One result of the courts opening was 850 Catholic clergy abuse victims and a $660 million dollar settlement for victims from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.[37] This era also included a “$100 million settlement by the Diocese of Orange covering 90 cases.” [38] Attorney Anthony DeMarco represented more than 350 Catholic survivors and obtained more than $1 billion in settlements in these cases. The San Diego Diocese went the bankruptcy route in this era. In February 2007, the diocese filed for bankruptcy as the first abuse case was about to go to trial, putting the court cases on hold. It wound up paying $198.1 million in damages. People later asked if they paid more or less because of bankruptcy.
Dan McNevin sued the Oakland Diocese in 2003 and almost lost his case until files showed that his abuser, Father James Clark, had been convicted before he went to Fremont, where he abused McNevin. McNevin said the conviction meant almost 60 cases were settled, but individually, not as a group. Individual cases are better than one big bankruptcy decision, he insists. [39]
Santa Rosa paid at least $35 million in settlements since the 1990s. One third of that amount arose from the 2003 one year opening of the SOL. The later three-year window gave Santa Rosa at least 226 new cases. [40]
In October of 2003, in San Bernardino, two brothers who were victims of Father Edward Ball entered into a settlement with defendants Ball, the Roman Catholic Bishop of San Bernardino, and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. The brothers were David T. and Troy T., who said they were repeatedly abused by Father Edward Ball at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in San Bernardino in hundreds of incidents from 1979 to 1986. Judge Robert S. Krug noted a $4,200,000 settlement with defendants Bishop and the Missionaries. The judge also entered a default judgment against Father Edward Ball for $26,405,000. The lawsuit took 6 years to complete. Half of the payment was by the San Bernardino Diocese, and the other half by an Illinois religious order to which Ball belonged. Insurance paid the diocese’s damages. The plaintiffs probably did not receive the $26 million from Father Ball, as abusers frequently lack assets to pay damages.[41]
In November 2003, the court ordered Father Robert Freitas to pay $16 million to end the lawsuit against him, but it is unclear if he had the resources to do so. Freitas represented himself at trial. Oakland agreed to pay $1 million plus $50,000 for counseling for survivor Mark Bogdanowicz. The diocese’s insurer paid the $1 million. Bogdanowicz is a former Navy SEAL and Gulf War veteran. The abuse occurred in 1979 when Bogdanowicz was 15 years old.[42]
Under the 2003 opening, in January, 2004, Oakland agreed to pay $3,050,000 to a girl who was raped by a priest twenty years earlier. The woman is Jennifer Chapin, who was abused by Msgr. George Francis.[43]
A lawsuit against Rev. Matthew Kelly started late in 2003. A 12-year-old boy, Andrew Ruiz, was molested when he was a minor, between 1967 and 1973. The priest paid the boy $100 per encounter. The priest asked the boy to pose for nude pictures and posted numerous pictures in his residence. [44] His claims were included in the 2007 settlement. Robin Cook said Kelly got him drunk and raped him when he was 13. In the settlement, Kelly’s seven accusers received about $1.1 million each, although the numbers range from $200,000 to $1.85 million.[45]
Orange settled cases of 91 victims for $100 million on December 2, 2004. The diocese released 10,000 pages of documents showing the church’s actions. Files of 15 priests were released, but not files on eight other priests and teachers. The bishops apparently shuffled the abusers around the country. The abusers were 31 priests, 10 lay personnel, 2 nuns, and 1 brother. There were especially revealing documents on abusers Andrew Christian Andersen, Siegfried Widera, Eleuterio Ramos, Franklin Buckman and Michael Pecharich.[46] Claims against Michael Harris, Eleuterio Ramos and Siegfried Widera ended with this settlement.[47] Father James Ford and Father Richard Delahunty were named as abusers in this settlement. [48]
In Oakland, on December 23, 2004, three Christian Brothers’ cases were settled for $6,300,000. The Christian Brothers settled the case, but the three Brothers were never prosecuted. The criminal statute of limitations passed. Chris Barbour settled for $4 million for abuse by Joseph Gutierrez. Two other De La Salle High School students joined the lawsuit against two different Christian Brothers. The second victim, an unnamed teacher, received $1.2 million for molestation by Brother John Moriarty. Robert Fuller sued Brother Raimond Rose for molestation and settled for $1.1 million. Rose had sex with him in the shower and then sodomized him.[49]
In Chapin, Pro Ami v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland, JVR N. 420538, 2004 WL 5779170 (Cal.), the court recorded a settlement of $3,000,000 in a suit where a 6-year-old girl was raped by a non-party priest. The allegation was that the diocese was negligent in not supervising priests and providing a safe environment for children.
Two sisters, Catherine and Karen, received a six-figure settlement from San Francisco in 2004 due to abuse by Father Philip McCrillis. The sisters said he also had an affair with their mother. [50]
Santa Rosa, on April 22, 2005, awarded $3,300,000 to Roberta Saum, who was a teenager when Father Donald Kimball started a six-year sexual relationship with her. She was in foster care. In 2000 he asked her to lie for him when other women accused him of abuse. He was not a party to the lawsuit. The diocese did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement.[51]
On May 19, 2005, there was another Stockton settlement over Father Oliver O’Grady. It was $3 million for his rape of someone in a church confessional. O’Grady was deported to Ireland in 2001. O’Grady admitted to molesting 25 children. Up to this point, the diocese had paid $14 million in damages. The Stockton Diocese settled this one; O’Grady did not.[52]
In June, 2005, San Francisco paid $21.2 million to people molested by five priests. The archdiocese paid $6.6 million, and insurance the rest. Victims’ attorneys said the church delayed the settlement. The priests were Joseph Pritchard, who had a jury verdict of $4.5 million against him; Leonel Noia; Arthur Harrison; Guy Murnig; and Gregory Ingels, who, incredibly, advised the Canon Law Society on abuse.[53]
In June 2005, in Sacramento, $35,000,000 was settled one day before the trial of Father Mario Blanco was about to start. Insurers covered less than 50% of the amount. The minimum pre-fee payout was for $400,000, and the maximum was $4.5 million. There were 10 priests: Michael Lynch, Edmund Boyle, Jorge Moreno, Javier Garcia, Jose Urbina, Vincent Brady, Jerome Henson, James Mennis, Mario Blanco, and one unnamed. The unnamed was cleared by a church diocese. There were 33 claims of abuse. It was the first diocese in Northern California to settle all claims at once.[54] Two of the Blanco cases were settled. Post-settlement, Blanco went to a traditional church in Tacoma, Washington, and Sacramento did not realize he was still acting as a priest. This news was horror to his victims.[55]
In July 2005, Santa Rosa agreed to pay $7.3 million to settle lawsuits of eight children abused by different priests. Greg Sloan was abused by Father Patrick Gleeson. Four cases involved Father Don Kimball, and two Father Gary Timmons. In the past, the diocese had paid money to five Kimball victims, 10 Timmons victims, one O’Shea victim, and one Austin Peter Keegan victim. The insurance paid 75% of the costs.[56]
In July 2005, San Francisco paid $16 million to settle with 12 people molested by Father Joseph Pritchard. This news story says the settlement is similar to one in June 2005 of 10 similar plaintiffs, noted above. By the end of this case, 22 of 23 lawsuits against Pritchard were settled.[57]
On August 5, 2005, Oakland arranged a $56,000,000 settlement for a list of priests. Not all priests involved were named. Robert Ponciroli and Stephen Kiesle were on the list. [58] A settlement with a victim of George Crespin was for $600,000. Plaintiffs alleged Kiesle was aware of the abuse as well as an abuser. A church review said Crespin was not liable, so he returned to work in the church.[59]
Jane Roe received $875,000 from Fresno for five years of abuse in the 1960s by James Collins. The 2006 news story from the Fresno Bee also mentions Oakland settling with 50 victims, Santa Rosa paying $10.6 million to settle nine lawsuits from 2002 and 2003, and Stockton settling for $3 million. “The Fresno Diocese had eight substantiated reports of child abuse by priests from 1950-2002 and settled with two victims, both for $45,000, in the same time period, a diocesan official said in 2004.”[60]
Oakland altar boys Robert and Tom Thatcher won $1.93 million in damages from a jury for damage they suffered in 1980 at the hands of abuser Father Robert Ponciroli.[61]
In 2005, Oakland paid $56 million to 56 victims, ranging from $200,000 to $2 million, with an average payment of $1 million. [62]
Father Oskar Pelaez pled guilty to molestation of a teen, and served three years of his six-year term in prison. The Stockton church paid $1 million in 2005 in settlement to Peleaz’s victim.[63]
Two Sacramento priests, Jose Luis Urbina and Francisco Javier Garcia, were accused of abuse. Urbina was convicted in 1989. Those two were part of the Diocese’s $35 million settlement in 2005.[64] Ten priests—Michael Lynch, Edmund Boyle, Jorge Moreno, Javier Garcia, Jose Urbina, Vincent Brady, Jerome Henson, James Mennis and Mario Blanco—were in the settlement. [65]
In September, 2005, San Francisco paid $4 million to settle four lawsuits against Msgr. Patrick O’Shea. $1.7 million went to Kenneth McDonald.[66]
Santino Casimano, a priest with the Gallup (New Mexico) Diocese, molested two brothers while they were all in California. Orange paid the brothers $4.2 million in a 2005 settlement. [67]
This case is about abuse in Orange County from 1972-1976, with a diabetic priest. He would get the students drunk, show them pornography, touch their genitalia, copulate, and fondle them. [68] Doe 1 settled for $60,000 with Orange and Los Angeles, and received another $510,049 from Orange and $100,000 from defendants including Los Angeles. Doe 2 received $150,000 and another $510,049 from Orange. Doe 3 settled with Orange for $1,420,972, and against other defendants and Los Angeles for $350,000. [69]
In June 2006, the Franciscans of Los Angeles paid $28,000,000 to 25 victims of 10 priests and brothers, including Mario Cimmarrusti, Robert Van Handel, David Johnson, Gus Krumm, Gary Pacheco, David Carriere, Chris Berbena, Berard Connolly, and Samuel Charles Cabot. Most abuse occurred at St. Anthony’s Seminary in Santa Barbara. They sold property and insurance contributed. They were accused of “fondling, masturbating, orally copulating and sodomizing” the victims. There was an earlier settlement for abuse by Krumm. [70]
Franciscan priest Robert Van Handel kept a diary of his abuse. He was defrocked after accusations of molesting 17 boys. He pled guilty to one count and spent four years in prison.[71] A later case upheld the release of the Franciscans’ records about their members’ employment.[72] In a lawsuit by John L. Allen against Van Handel, the Franciscan Friars, and Los Angeles, there was a $1,700,000 settlement.[73] The plaintiff was a member of the Boys’ Choir, where Van Handel molested him. Van Handel had created the choir to provide “a constant supply of attractive little boys.” [74]
In 2006, Los Angeles announced that it was paying $60 million to 45 victims of seven priests who were abusing while Mahoney was in charge of the Los Angeles Archdiocese.[75] The priests were Michael Baker, Richard Allen Henry, Carlos Rene Rodriguez, Michael Edwin Wempe, Edward Dober, Richard Martini, and Samuel Orellana.[76]
In summary, in December 2006, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Franciscan Friars had paid $ 28 million to 25 plaintiffs; the Diocese of Orange $100 million to 90 plaintiffs; the Diocese of Sacramento $35 million to 33 plaintiffs; the Diocese of Oakland, $56 million to 56 plaintiffs; and the Archdiocese of San Francisco, $66 million to 93 plaintiffs. [77] San Diego would pay $198.1 million in its bankruptcy results.
In October, 2006, the Los Angeles Archdiocese and the Carmelites, a Roman Catholic religious order, agreed to pay $10 million to seven people who had been abused at a Carmelite school. The Carmelite priest was Dominic Savino. The school’s principal, John Knoernschild, was also named in the suit. The archdiocese would pay only 5% of the total.[78] Two accused Carmelites, Matthew Sprouffske and Brother Lawrence Brown, were dead, while Vincent Van ter Toolen was believed to be dead.[79]
In 2006, there was a settlement with a victim of Father Joseph Ferreira of Oakland.[80]
The Jesuits settled cases of abuse by twin brother priests Mark Falvey and Arthur Falvey. The Sacramento and Los Angeles dioceses also paid as part of the 2007 settlement. There was a separate 2009 settlement for Arthur.[81] In 2002 and 2003, victims accused Mark of abuse in the 1950s and 1960s. Mark Falvey also abused the young, future president of the Philippines while he worked there. The payment for Mark’s abuses was $16 million. The Jesuits settled with victims of Arthur Falvey in June 2009.[82] Arthur’s victim said Arthur had raped him repeatedly over four years.[83] The Jesuits paid Mark Green $100,000 for Arthur’s rape of him when Green was seven years old.[84]
The Diocese of Monterey settled with men who accused Father Patrick McHugh of being a serial pedophile with them. The total settlement was $1.5 million and lifetime counseling. It is one of three settled before January 8, 2007. [85]
In 2007, M.H., J. Doe and S.W. settled their cases against Los Angeles, Orange County and Father Eleuterio Ramos, for $3,101,069.75. Earlier damages for claims against Ramos were paid in several stages over 10 years, from the 1990s to 2005 and 2007. The abuse occurred from 1972-1976. The cases were consolidated into Clergy Cases I. M.H. and J. Doe said the 1990s settlements were fraudulent; the church hid its participation in covering up the abuse. “M.H. initially settled his claims against the Orange County diocese and the Los Angeles archdiocese for $60,000 in the mid-1990s. He received an additional $510,048.95 as part of his settlement with the Orange County diocese in 2005, and an additional $100,000 for his claims against the other defendants, including the Los Angeles archdiocese, bringing his total settlement to $670,048.95. J. Doe received $150,000 as settlement of his claims in the mid-1990s and an additional $510,048.95 as part of his subsequent settlement with the Orange County diocese in 2005. His total recovery was $660,048.95. S.W. settled with the Orange County diocese for $1,420,972.15. He settled with the remaining defendants, including the Los Angeles archdiocese, for $350,000, making his total recovery $1,770,972.15.”[86]
In 2007, Los Angeles paid $660 million to abuse victims, but they were not all paid the same amount. They were required to participate in discussions of what trauma they underwent. Some talked about drug or alcohol use or considered suicide. [87] There were 221 priest, brothers, lay teachers and other church employees who were abusers, with a total of 508 victims. There were promises to release church files. Before this, the archdiocese paid $114 million. [88] Mary Grant received $25,000 for rape by Father John Lenihan in the 1990s, and was not included in Orange County’s settlement with 90 people getting between $500,000 and $1.6 million. She did receive a settlement in the Los Angeles $660,000,000 case.[89] The release of church documents started five years later. The former priests whose personnel files would be released are: Michael Buckley, Santiago Tamayo, Kevin Barmasse, Angel Cruces, Donald Patrick Roemer, Peter Garcia, Cristobal Garcia, Lawrence Lovell, John Salazar, Matthew Sprouffske, Lynn Cafoe, Michael Baker, John Dawson, Gerald Fessard, Michael Wempe, Carlos Rene Rodriguez, James Ford, Richard Allen Henry, Michael Nocita, Luis Jaramillo, George Neville Rucker, George Miller, Eleuterio Ramos, Benjamin Hawkes and Fidencio Silva.[90]
The files of Ruben Martinez indicate that he molested more than 100 boys—including his brother. Martinez was part of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. [91] Five altar boys from Tucson each received $1.5 million as part of the $660 million settlement because they were abused by California’s Kevin Barmasse. [92]
Father Michael Baker was convicted in 2007, and payment was made on four cases in 2013. Baker told the archbishop about the abuse in 1986, but he was still allowed to work. Baker had forty identified children victims.[93]
In December 2007, Rita Milla received a $500,000 settlement for abuse by Father Santiago Tamayo as part of the Los Angeles settlement. The abuse started with a kiss and ended with intercourse. Tamayo introduced her to six other priests who abused her. She became pregnant with Father Valentine Tugade’s child. Tamayo said she should have an abortion, but she had the child. Tugade never helped with their child.[94] She sued defendants Santiago Tamayo, Angel Cruces, Henry Caboang, Rubin Abaya, Sylvio Lacar, Victor Balbin, Valentine Tugade, the Los Angeles Archdiocese and Does 1-50, but the case was dismissed over the statute of limitations.[95]
The Roman Catholic Bishop of San Diego’s bankruptcy was dismissed in 2007 after a settlement among the parties.[96] San Diego was unlike the other American dioceses in reaching a settlement instead of a consensual plan. San Diego settled on 11/16/2007, and the parishes were not separately incorporated; Stockton was confirmed on 1/13/2017, and did have separately incorporated parishes.[97] San Diego had a settlement total of $198.1 million, with insurance portion $75.65, total professional fees of $5.0. There were 144 victims, with $1,375,690 settlement per victim. Stockton paid $17.1 million total, $3.3 million insurance portion, $1.0 professional fees, 30 victims, and $570,000 settlement per victim.
The San Diego payment probably included Edito D. Amora or D’Amora, who was also part of Orange’s $100 million settlement. Individually, the payment in Orange was $1.42 million.[98] The final San Diego payment was $77 million from the diocese, $75 million from insurance for 111 cases, religious orders paid $30 million for 22 cases, and San Bernardino, which had earlier been part of San Diego, paid $15 million for 11 cases. [99] Anthony Rodrigue (Father Tony) was on this San Diego list. [100] Rev. Frank Robier and Msgr. William Kraft were also San Diego abusers. [101] There were 48 priests and one lay employee in the bankruptcy awards. Mgsr. Matthew J. Thompson was another of the priests. He had a street named after him, but it was renamed to St. Edward Circle. [102] There was a settlement at an unknown time for a victim of Father Michael French. [103]
There was a pre-bankruptcy settlement with Father William Kraft’s victim, where a boy received $250,000. The San Diego Diocese and the insurance company paid $75,000 each on that total, and the late Kraft paid $100,000. This was a case brought by law firm Manly Stewart. His client is unnamed. [104] The abuse was 35 years ago.
Santa Rosa agreed to pay more than $5 million, with $20,000 coming from the bishop, to settle a case for 10 people accusing Francisco Ochoa-Perez of abuse. The settlement was reached in August 2007. The priest is also known as Francisco Xavier Ochoa. He fled to Mexico. The abuse occurred between 1985 and 2006.[105]
On September 7, 2007, San Bernardino agreed to pay $15.1 million to 11 people abused by priests. Five of 16 lawsuits against the diocese were not resolved in this settlement. Patrick O’Keeffe molested 17-year-old Nicki Rister. Half of the amount was paid by insurance.[106] These were part of the bankruptcy results.
In 2007, victim Sgt. Juan Rocha agreed to binding arbitration instead of a trial in his lawsuit. The results will not be made public. The lawyer had offered to settle the case for a dollar if Eric Swearingen left the priesthood. The offer was not accepted. [107]
A week before the jury trial was to start by Jane C.R. Doe in October 2007 against basketball coach Jeff Andrade, the Orange Diocese agreed to settle for $6.7 million. Doe said Andrade abused her for two years. The settlement also included three claims against two choir directors and a teacher in the Orange Diocese. Larry Stukenholtz, Jeffrey Seckman, and Albert Schildknecht were alleged to have sex with minor girls.[108]
In Jane Does v. Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 2007 WL 4570239 (Cal.Super.), the court awarded $11,000,000 to six plaintiffs who had suffered sexual abuse as children. The abuse occurred between 1975 and 1978, by a lay science teacher. There were multiple acts of sexual intercourse. The teacher was imprisoned for abuse.
Tarcisio Lanuevo was accused of abusing two sisters, one ten and the other two years old; that lawsuit settled in 2008 for an undisclosed amount.[109]
A Catholic religious order, the Salesians, settled a lawsuit about Father Titin Miani just after the jury was seated. The Salesians settled with 17 complainants, including the four plaintiffs in the case that was about to start. The date was May 2008. The amount of money was $19.5 million. At the time, the Salesians had not joined the $660 million settlement.[110] The Salesians settled cases with three victims of Brother Sal Billante in 2008. [111] A settlement with Salesian Father Larry Lorenzoni was made in 2003 for numerous molestations.[112]
Julie C.’s case against Athletic Director and Coach Renato “Ray” Lopez, Jr., was settled after it was on the calendar to be heard. This took place at Sacred Heart High School in Los Angeles.[113]
On June 3, 2009, the Monterey Diocese settled $1.2 million on someone who was abused by Fathers Juan Guillen and John Velez. The survivor had already received money in Tucson Diocese’s bankruptcy settlement. The boy was molested when he was twelve.[114]
In 2009, there was a settlement between John Does 4A and 4B and the Stockton Diocese. This settlement occurred after a jury verdict with the Bishop of Stockton for negligent supervision. The church later filed an appeal for insurance coverage of their damages.[115]
There was a $2.2 million settlement in Doe v. Doe, Orange County and Los Angeles district courts, in 2010 against more misconduct by Father Michael Baker.[116]
In 2010, Stockton settled a claim for $300,000 with a victim of Leo Suarez. The diocese paid half and its insurance the other half. [117]
In 2011, there was a settlement in the case of John VG Doe versus Los Angeles. [118] The accusations of sexual misconduct were against Father Fernando Lopez-Lopez, an extern priest in Los Angeles.
In 2011, Orange settled a lawsuit about sexual misconduct by Fathers Gus Krumm and Alexander Manville for abuse between 1992 and 1994. The settlement amount was $200,000. [119]
Matthew Frazer filed suit in 2011, arguing that Don Flickinger abused him and that the Fresno, San Francisco and San Jose dioceses were negligent in allowing Flickinger to continue his abuse. Frazer had more than twenty witnesses in support of his claim.[120] Three victims of Fickinger received a settlement with Monterey, San Jose, and San Francisco dioceses in September 2013.[121]
In 2012, Orange paid $2 million to an Air Force pilot abused in 1986 or 1987. [122]
Monterey paid $500,000 to settle a lawsuit against Father Edward Fitz-Henry by a parishioner at Madonna del Sasso parish in 2012. [123]
In 2012, the Orange “Diocese settled the case for an undisclosed sum” for Father Denis Lyons’ molestation of a minor. [124] In a prior case, Orange had paid $ 4 million in 2009 to settle other abuse cases by Lyons.[125] One 2009 case involved survivor Jon Kirrer, whose abuse occurred in 1994 and 1995. [126]
In 2013, Monterey settled with plaintiff in a case where Father Antonio Cortes failed to appear in court. The amount was kept confidential. [127]
In 2014, just as the trial was about to start, Los Angeles settled a case for $13 million, where 17 victims had accused Father Nicholas Aguilar Rivera of abuse. There were suggestions that the bishops allowed Rivera to return to Mexico when they first learned of his abuse.[128]
In 2016, Allan Bruce received a six-figure settlement in a case against Brother Damien Chong at the Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino.[129]
An Oakland victim of Michael Van Dinh received a $3.5 million settlement in 2017. The victim was a seminarian.[130]
In 2017, John CP Doe reached a settlement for abuse by Mgsr. Alfred Hernandez when John was in first grade. On one occasion, Hernandez “sodomized the boy as the child read passages from the Bible as ordered by the pastor.” [131]
In 2019, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles settled with a young man who was abused by Rev. Chris Cunningham. The plaintiff is known as CJ Doe.[132] The abuse occurred in 2001 and 2002.
DeMarco Law Firm supported many of the plaintiffs in these cases. They highlight a $3.75 million settlement against priest Carlos Rene Rodriguez by two adults who were abused as children. [133] Rodriguez was a Vincentian priest. There is also a 2016 $1 million settlement against the Vincentian Fathers and the Los Angeles Archdiocese for Rodriguez’s abuse. There is a 2019 undisclosed settlement about John Doe in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. There is a 2019 settlement against the Orange Diocese for $1.5 million. And, there is a 2014 $13 million settlement in the case of Juan Doe v. the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. [134]
DeMarco mentions a 2015 confidential settlement against Father Alejandro Castillo, who ministered in San Bernardino and Los Angeles in the 1990s and 2000s. [135] San Bernardino settled two child-abuse cases against Alejandro Castillo, using insurance and diocesan funds to do so. A third lawsuit was litigated in 2014.[136]
In PLAINTIFF, PRO AMI v. STOCKTON DIOCESE, JVR No. 437670, the diocese denied liability but settled a case with a $3 Million NonVerdict for a 9-year-old who had been abused with no protection by the diocese. The priest was unnamed.
There was a $3.8 million settlement against Stockton and a jury verdict against Michael Kelly for sexual abuse of a child.[137] Three lawsuits named Michael Kelly as a defendant, one by plaintiff John MT Doe.
The history tells us that when courts are open, abusers are named. Their abuse is recognized, and their victims have their stories believed. Victims of abuse are survivors, whose strength increases when the courts allow their abusers to be recognized for their horrible acts and to pay the survivors for their injuries. Settlements show that opening the courts forces wrongdoers to pay for their abuse.
This knowledge convinces state legislatures to keep reopening the courts.
2024
Because of growing concerns and openness about the horrors of sexual abuse, California again opened a three-year revival window, from 2020-2022, that allowed survivors to file lawsuits starting January 1, 2020.[138] Preceding California Governor Jerry Brown refused to open this window, but Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law. [139]
One of the first lawsuits filed was John LA-1 Doe, for abuse by Michael Baker from 1993 to 1997 when Doe was 6 to 10 years old. Law firm Manly Stewart settled these four cases for $9.9 million.[140]
In contrast to all the litigation leading to settlements, the Catholic Church set up an alternative to litigation. The Independent Compensation Program For Victims of Sexual Abuse By Diocesan Priests In California was created by the church as an alternative to going to court under the revived statute of limitations (SOL).[141] Its members included former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, former Governor Gray Davis, and businesswoman Maria Contreras-Sweet. This program began in 2019, with participants from Fresno, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego and Los Angeles, which have about 80% of California’s Catholics. Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Biros, who are well known for their work with victims’ cases, ran the program, and had “absolute and independent discretion” to award damages. Davis mentioned that, as governor, he opened the SOL in 2003, which resulted in $1.2 billion in payouts. 197 victims chose this ICP system rather than court. ICP protected privacy and was confidential. Of the 929 victims who registered with ICP, 583 claims were completed and $23,970,000 was given to 197 individuals. ICP started in September, 2019, and took claims through March 31, 2020. They announced the conclusion of the program in September 2021. The announcement was made by the program’s Independent Oversight Committee.
In April 2020, a claim against Mgsr. John O’Connell, who “fondled the boy’s penis and testicles, skin-on-skin, and … performed oral sex” on a minor, settled in the mid-five figures.[142]
In June 2020, the Los Angeles Archdiocese agreed to settle a suit for $1.9 million. The victim, Richard Barrios, was abused by Father Lawrence Lovell while he was an altar boy from 1982-1984.[143]
A claim against Father Denis Ginty for abuse against a female minor child in 1968 settled in 2020 in the low five figures.[144]
In 2020, Fathers Robert Koerner, Anthony Rodrigue, Alexander Pinter, Joseph Rossell, Gregory Sheridan, Peter Marron, are abusers named in new San Diego lawsuits. [145] There is one earlier settlement for Gregory Sheridan. [146]
The Diocese of Orange and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles joined in a $10 million settlement for the wrongdoing of two Orange County priests. Orange paid $9.5 million and Los Angeles $500,000. This case was originally expected to be the first case to go to trial in the new window.[147] Orange commented that the case was more than 40 years old and does not reflect the situation of the diocese today. [148] Victims of Eleuterio Ramos and Siegfried Widera were included in the settlement. Orange settled five abuse cases against Ramos in the 1990s. [149]
Ramos admitted he had assaulted more than two dozen boys. [150] Widera “was one of the most wanted sex crime fugitives in North America.” [151] The plaintiff was abused by both men when he was 5 to 10 years old. The plaintiff’s attorneys produced evidence showing that the church hid the abuse. The church sent Ramos for therapy for sexual abuse of minors. His counselor urged the church not to reinstate Ramos, but it did. “The counselor added that she learned it was common practice at the time for bishops who referred priests to treatment for abuse of minors to then move those priests to other parishes or churches upon their return.” [152]
Los Angeles will pay $880 million to settle cases with 1,353 people. It is supposed to be the “largest single child sex abuse settlement with a Catholic archdiocese.” In the past, LA has paid $740 million, making a total of $1.5 billion. It took 18 months to reach this settlement. The abuse took place 30, 40 and 50 years ago. It will be paid by “reserves, investments and loans, along with other archdiocesan assets” and payments from religious orders. [153]
Orange Diocese agreed to pay a $3.5 million settlement to John Doe, a man abused by Michael Harris, the vice principal at Mater Dei High School. The abuse occurred in 1978, when Doe was 15. This claim started in a 2019 suit against the diocese. The total now for abuse by Msgr. Michael Harris is $10 million. Harris denies it and was never criminally prosecuted. Doe says he still suffers from the abuse. Insurance paid for the settlement. In the past, Harris asked Doe to come to his office to discuss grades, talked to him, then orally copulated him. Harris was known as “Father Hollywood”, and also worked in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, where he was accused of abusing 12 other victims. Orange later sent him to a treatment center. [154] Attorneys for that John Doe said there are two more Mater Dei cases that are ready for trial next year. The Doe settlement came just before a jury was to be seated. Jeff Anderson mentions seventeen other offenders.[155] In 2012, Manly, Stewart received $2 million on the first day of trial in a case about Michael Harris and the Orange Diocese. Also, the statute of limitations was tolled on the aforementioned Air Force serviceman’s case. The victim was a Lieutenant Colonel.[156]
Oakland declared bankruptcy in 2023 after paying settlements to 330 victims of priest abuse. In 2024, victims’ attorney say that Oakland transferred $100 million into a nonprofit in order to hide their money from victims. The fund is the Oakland Parochial Fund, which has been inactive since 2017. [157] In 2023, Oakland list of 330 victims of unknown name and timing. The prior Monday, Santa Rosa filed for bankruptcy, facing more than 200 lawsuits.[158]
Conclusion
That’s where many churches headed. To bankruptcy, avoiding the courts as long as they can. Other cases await trial. We wait to hear what happens next.
* Yashmeeta Sharma found many of the stories cited in this post. She also wrote the Excel file listing the abusers. I am very grateful to her for all her work. I also thank Macie Nielsen, Harrison Epstein, Amanda Vaskov, and Karin Tidgewell for their detailed research and aid with the manuscript.
[1] Rob Hayes, Director Roman Polanski is sued over more allegations of sexual assault of a minor, ABC7, Mar. 13, 2024, https://abc7.com/roman-polanski-sued-over-allegations-of-sexual-assault-minor/14518538/#; Derrick Bryson Taylor, Lawsuit Accusing Roman Polanski of 1973 Rape Is Settled, N.Y. Times, Oct. 23, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/arts/roman-polanski-rape-lawsuit-settlement.html.
[2] Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340.1, CHILD USA, National Overview of Statutes of Limitation (SOLs) for Child Sex Abuse, Mar. 7, 2024, https://childusa.org/2024sol/.
[3] Hayes, supra, n. 1.
[4] Taylor, supra, n. 1.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Susan Gembrowski & Sandi Dolbee, Retired Priest Admits Abuse, Bishop Says, San Diego Union-Trib., Aug. 10, 2002.
[8] Susan Gembrowski, Diocese Will Pay Former Altar Boy Who Was Abused, San Diego Union-Trib., Nov. 2, 2002
[9] Gregg Zoroyz, Church Agrees to Pay in Molestation Suit, Register, Aug. 16, 1988.
[10] Gregg Zoroya, Anaheim Priest Acknowledges Sexual Contact with Girl in 1978, Orange County Register, Feb. 4, 1991, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/1991_02_04_Zoroya_AnaheimPriest.htm.
[11] Don Lattin, Law May Permit Trial of Priest in Sex Abuse Case, S.F. Chron., Apr. 28, 1994.
[12] Breaking the Silence, Monterey County Herald, Jun. 23, 2002.
[13] Don Lattin, 15 Men Settle Molest Suit against 3 Bay Priests, S.F.Chron., Mar. 22, 1996, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/1996_05_22_Lattin_15Men_Timmons_Keegan_OShea_2.htm; Don Lattin, $30 Million Awarded Men Molested by Family Priest, S.F. Chron., July 17, 1998, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/ma-bos/settlements/SettlementStocktonOGrady.html.
[14] Victoria Kim & Harriet Ryan, Cleric Who Ran Rosemead Orphanage Was Suspected of Molestation, L.A. Times, Jul. 7, 2013, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-church-sandstrom-20130707,0,7832227.story.
[15] Carol Benfell, Diocese Settles Molest Claims, Press Dem., Jan. 16, 1997.
[16] Lattin, $30 Million, supra n. 13.
[17] AP, San Diego Diocese Discloses 1999 Abuse Settlement, May 9, 2002.
[18] Tracey Kaplan, Powerful, Emotional Closing Arguments in Priest-beating Case, Mercury News, Jul. 2, 2012, https://www.mercurynews.com/2012/07/02/powerful-emotional-closing-arguments-in-priest-beating-case/.
[19] Lex Friedrich, Alleged Clergy Abuse Mishandled, Report Says, Monterey County Herald, May 17, 2002.
[20] BishopAccountability.Org, Sexual Abuse by U.S. Catholic Clergy: Settlements and Monetary Awards in Civil Suits, https://bishop-accountability.org/settlements/.
[21] John Glionna, Santa Rosa Diocese Agrees to Sexual Misconduct Settlement, L.A. Times, Mar. 15, 2000, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2000_03_15_Glionna_SantaRosa.htm.
[22] Glenn F. Bunting, Ralph Frammolino, and Richard Winton, Archdiocese for Years Kept Allegations of Abuse from Police; Church also let accused priests flee, say documents, interviews; But Mahony has been relatively aggressive in dismissing clergy, L.A. Times, Aug. 18, 2002.
[23] Hannah Fry, O.C. diocese will pay $3.5 million to settle sexual abuse allegations against former school leader, L.A. Times, Dec. 18, 2024, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-12-18/oc-diocese-will-pay-millions-to-settle-sexual-abuse-allegations-against-former-school-leader; William Lobdell, Dioceses’ Policies Reflect Settlement, L.A. Times, Apr. 28, 2002, http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-042802policy,0,2929612.story?coll=la-news-religion.
[24] Bunting, supra, n. 22.
[25] Gabriel San Roman, Diocese of Orange settles Mater Dei sex abuse case for $3.5 million, 2 more cases expected, L.A. Times, Dec. 19, 2024.
[26] Jean O. Pasco & William Lobdell, Church Settles Suit, Toughens Policies, L.A. Times, Aug. 22, 2001, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/ma-bos/settlements/SettlementLADiMaria.html.
[27] Carol McGraw & Valeria Godines, Dioceses settle abuse case, Orange County Register, Apr. 2, 2002, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2002_04_02_McGraw_DiocesesSettle.htm.
[28] Jeffrey Anderson, Priest Molested Minor, Suit Says, (LA) Daily Journal, Dec. 11, 2002, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/ma-bos/settlements/SettlementLAHagenbach.html; Bunting, supra, n. 22.
[29] Candice Nguyen et al., Reckoning, NBC Bay Area, Mar. 2, 2024, https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/reckoning/3458889/.
[30] Scott Farwell, Priest, 72, Faces Move Inland: Though an Inquiry against Him Was Dropped, He Will Also Revisit a Treatment Center, Press Enterprise, Sept. 30, 2002.
[31] Dorothy Korber & Jennifer Garza, Bishop Reveals Sex Case Claims, Sacramento Bee, Apr. 12, 2002.
[32] Glenn F. Bunting, Cloak of Silence Covered Abuse at Jesuit Retreat, L.A. Times, Mar. 24, 2002, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news/2002_03_24_Bunting_CloakOf.htm.
[33] William Lobdell, Diocese of Orange Paid $400,000 in Priest Sex Suit, L.A. Times, Sept. 13, 2002, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2002_09_13_Lobdell_DioceseOf.htm.
[34] Bunting, supra, n. 22.
[35] Id.
[36] Laura J. Nelson, As deadline looms, California’s institutions face thousands of childhood sexual abuse claims, L.A. Times, Dec. 28, 2022, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-12-28/child-sex-abuse-lawsuits-california-deadline-ab218; Ashley Powers, Catholic Church lobbies to avert sex abuse lawsuits, L.A. Times, Jul. 15, 2013, https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2013-jul-15-la-me-church-bill-20130715-story.html.
[37] Marci A. Hamilton, A ‘window’ for victims of abuse, L.A. Times, Jul. 19, 2007, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jul-19-oe-hamilton19-story.html.
[38] Sean Emery, $10 Million settlement reached in clergy child sexual abuse case in Orange, LA counties, The Orange County Register, Jan. 26, 2024, https://www.ocregister.com/2024/01/26/10-million-settlement-reached-in-clergy-child-sexual-abuse-case-in-orange-la-counties/; Sean Emery, Catholic church; Orange, L.A. dioceses reach $10M settlement in child sex case, The Orange County Register, Jan. 27, 2024, p. 1.
[39] Robin Buller, Catholic dioceses are declaring bankruptcy. Abuse survivors say it’s a ‘way to silence’ them, The Guardian, Nov. 12, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/12/sex-abuse-catholic-church-bankruptcy-oakland-califonia.
[40] Mary Callahan, Last chance ahead for clergy abuse survivors to file claims against Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese, The Press Democrat, Aug. 15, 2023, https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/last-chance-ahead-for-clergy-abuse-survivors-to-file-claims-against-santa-r/.
[41] See San Bernardino CA – Edward L. Ball (6/30/03), https://www.bishop-accountability.org/ma-bos/settlements/SettlementSanBernardinoBall.html; NBC4, Judge Awards Brothers $26 Million in Priest Sex Abuse case, Oct. 17, 2003, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2003_07_12/2003_10_17_NBC4_JudgeAwards.htm; Brothers T. vs. Ball, 25 Trials Digest 7th 6, 2003 WL 23604769 (Cal. Super.).
[42] Terence Chea, Calif. Priest, Victim Agree to $16 Million Settlement in Molestation Case, Associated Press, Nov. 25, 2003, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2003_11_25_Chea_CalifPriest.htm.
[43] William Lobdell & Jean Guccione, Church to Pay $3 Million in Rape, L.A. Times, Jan. 24, 2004, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2004_01_06/2004_01_24_Lobdell_ChurchTo.htm.
[44] AP, Man Files Fourth Abuse Suit Naming Deceased Santa Barbara Priest, Mar. 20, 2004.
[45] Nick Welsh, Father Kelly’s Curse, Santa Barbara Indep., Sept. 6, 2007, http://www.independent.com/news/2007/sep/06/father-kellys-curse/.
[46] William Lobdell & Jean Guccione, Orange Diocese Gives Details on Sex Abuse, L.A. Times, May 18, 2005, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news/2005_05_18_Lobdell_OrangeDiocese.htm.
[47] Jean Guccione, Orange Bishop to Apologize in Huge Abuse Settlement, L.A. Times, Jan. 4, 2005, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-priest4jan04,1,2242044.story.
[48] Id.
[49] John Simerman, Accountability Eluded Three Christian Brothers, Contra Costa Times, Jan. 23, 2005, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2005_01_23_Simerman_AccountabilityEluded_Charles_Anthony_Rose.htm.
[50] Kim Vo, Priest’s Honors Anger Accusers, Merc. News, May 13, 2007, https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/05/12/priests-honors-anger-accusers/.
[51] Donna Horowitz, Diocese Agrees to Pay Woman $3.3 Million to Settle Sex-Abuse Case, L.A. Times, Apr. 23, 2005, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2005_04_23_Horowitz_DioceseAgrees.htm; SAUM v. CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SANTA ROSA, JVR No. 437393.
[52] Jean Guccione, Stockton Diocese to Pay $3 Million in Abuse Suit, L.A. Times, May 20, 2005, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2005_05_20_Guccione_StocktonDiocese.htm.
[53] Wyatt Buchanan & Elizabeth Fernandez, $21.2 Million Settlement for Victims of 5 Priests, S.F. Chron., Jun. 11, 2005, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2005_06_11_Buchanan_212Million_Arthur_Harrison_1.htm.
[54] Jennifer Garza, Robert D. Davila, & Steve Maynard, Diocese Settles Sex-Abuse Claims for $35 Million, June 30, 2005, Sacramento Bee, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2005_06_30_Garza_DioceseSettles.htm.
[55] Jennifer Garza, Accused Molester Is Still Priest, Sacramento Bee, Apr. 25, 2003.
[56] Jim Doyle, Santa Rosa Diocese Settles Sex Abuse Lawsuits, S.F. Chron., Jul. 1, 2005, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2005_07_01_Doyle_DioceseSettles.htm.
[57] Kelly St. John, Archdiocese to Pay $16 Million, S.F. Chron., Jul. 10, 2005, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2005_07_12/2005_07_10_John_ArchdioceseTo.htm.
[58] BishopAccountability.Org, Sexual Abuse by U.S. Catholic Clergy: Settlements and Monetary Awards in Civil Suits, https://bishop-accountability.org/settlements/.
[59] Jonathan Jones, Church Settles Abuse Lawsuit, The Argus, Aug. 10, 2005.
[60] John Ellis, Diocese Settles Sex Abuse Suit; Woman Will Receive $875,000 over 1960s Incidents, The Fresno Bee, Aug. 26, 2006.
[61] Bruce Gerstman, Oakland diocese settles abuse lawsuits for $56 million, The Seattle Times, Aug. 5, 2005, https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/oakland-diocese-settles-abuse-lawsuits-for-56-million/#.
[62] Joe Kukura, Oakland Catholic Diocese May File for Bankruptcy Over 330 Sex Abuse Lawsuits, SFIST, Mar. 17, 2023, https://sfist.com/2023/03/17/oakland-catholic-diocese-may-file-for-bankruptcy-over-330-sex-abuse-lawsuits/; Gerstman, id.
[63] KXTV [Stockton CA], Former Priest Paroled Back to Stockton after Serving Molestation Sentence, May 15, 2005.
[64] One Down, Two to Go: Sacramento Priest Accused of Child Molesting Captured in Mexico, but Two Others Still on the Lam, Cal. Cath. Daily, Mar. 21, 2008, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2008/03_04/2008_03_21_CaliforniaCatholicDaily_OneDown.htm.
[65] Jennifer Garza, Robert D. Davila, & Steve Maynard, Diocese Settles Sex-Abuse Claims for $35 Million, Sacramento Bee, Jun. 30, 2005.
[66] Jaxon Van Derbeken, Diocese settles 4 abuse lawsuits, S.F. Chron., Sept. 2, 2005, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2005_09_02_VanDerbeken_DioceseSettles.htm.
[67] Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola, LA Abuse Settlement Includes Area Man, Independent, Jul. 21, 2007, http://www.gallupindependent.com/2007/july/072107ehb_laabuse.html.
[68] Confidential v. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles, 35 Trials Digest 11th 10, 2005 WL 6188242 (Cal. Superior). Same numbers as SW plaintiff lawyer Meissner, Judge Fromholz.
[69] Confidential v. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles, 35 Trials Digest 11th 10, 2005 WL 6188242 (Cal. Superior). Same numbers as SW plaintiff lawyer Meissner, Judge Fromholz.
[70] Jean Guccione, Deal Reached in Franciscan Sex Abuse Suits, L.A. Times, Mar. 14, 2006, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2006/03_04/2006_03_14_Guccione_DealReached.htm; PLAINTIFF, PRO AMI v. LOS ANGELES ARCHDIOCESE; ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, JVR No. 445873; In re The Clergy Cases I, 188 Cal. App. 4th 1224, 1228, (2010) (allowing release of Franciscans’ psychiatric and other confidential records); Martha Sadler, Franciscans Settle, The Santa Barbara Indep., Aug. 10, 2006, https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2013-jul-06-la-me-church-sandstrom-20130707-story.html.
[71] Shannon Burkey, Boulder Creek Pedophile Priest Kept Detailed Diary, The Patch, June 1, 2012, http://scottsvalley.patch.com/articles/boulder-creek-pedophile-priest-kept-detailed-diary.
[72] In re Clergy Cases I John Doe 1 v. Franciscan Friars of California, 188 Cal.App.4th 1224 (2010).
[73] Allen v. Van Handel, 33 Trials Digest 3d 14, 2000 WL 33266562 (Cal. Super.)
[74] Id.
[75] John Spano, Paul Pringle and Jean Guccione, Church to Settle with 45 Accusers, L.A. Times,
Dec. 2, 2006, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-02-me-settlement2-story.html.
[76] BishopAccountability.Org, Sexual Abuse by U.S. Catholic Clergy: Settlements and Monetary Awards in Civil Suits, https://bishop-accountability.org/settlements/.
[77] John Spano, Paul Pringle and Jean Guccione, Church to Settle with 45 Accusers, L.A. Times,
Dec. 2, 2006, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-02-me-settlement2-story.html; see also PLAINTIFFS v. DEFENDANTS’ DIOCESES AND ARCHDIOCESES OF CALIFORNIA (12), JVR No. 440596 ($100 Million Non Verdict Award in a case with 87 plaintiffs from 10 dioceses and 2 archdioceses).
[78] John Spano, Settlement Reached in Crespi High Sex Abuse Case, L.A. Times, Oct. 27, 2006, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2006/09_10/2006_10_27_Spano_SettlementReached.htm.
[79] Catholic Key, Carmelites Settle Abuse Lawsuits for $10 Million, Nov. 10, 2006.
[80] Angela Hill, San Leandro Woman Accuses Catholic Priest of Sexual Abuse, Oakland Trib., Jun. 15, 2009, http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_12595532.
[81] BishopAccountability.Org, Fr. Mark A. Falvey, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/accused/falvey-mark-a-1928/; Jeff Anderson & Associates, Fr. Mark A. Falvey, S.J., https://www.andersonadvocates.com/accused/father-mark-a-falvey-sj/.
[82] BishopAccountability.Org, Fr. Arthur A. Falvey, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/accused/falvey-arthur-a-1930/.
[83] Paul Mones, Rev. Arthur A. Falvey, https://www.paulmones.com/priest-files/arthur-a-falvey/.
[84] Vincent Moleski, Jesuits release names of 11 priests accused of abuse in Sacramento area, The Sacramento Bee, Dec. 9, 2018, https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/education/article222796750.html.
[85] Peggy Townsend, Forty Years Later, Former Altar Boys Settle Lawsuit against Diocese, Santa Cruz Sent. Jan. 8, 2007, http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/January/08/local/stories/01local.htm.
[86] M.H., J. Doe and S.W. v. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles, The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange County and Father Eleuterio Ramos, 2007 WL 5493551.
[87] 508 Unnamed Minors v. Archbishop of Los Angeles, v. Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Various Related Entities, 2007 WL 2316069 (Cal.Super.); Jessica Garrison, Why Abuse Settlements Vary Among the Victims, L.A. Times, July 18, 2007, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jul-18-me-money18-story.html.
[88] BishopAccountability.Org, Sexual Abuse by U.S. Catholic Clergy: Settlements and Monetary Awards in Civil Suits, https://bishop-accountability.org/settlements/.
[89] Garrison, supra, n. 87.
[90] Christina Villacorte, Los Angeles Archdiocese to Release Personnel Files of Priests Accused of Abuse, LADailyNews, Oct. 12, 2012, http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21753512/los-angeles-achdiocese-release-personnel-files-priests-accused.
[91] Gillian Flaccus, Religious Order Files Reveal Decades of LA Abuse, Yahoo! News, Jul. 31, 2013, http://news.yahoo.com/religious-order-files-reveal-decades-la-abuse-193827319.html.
[92] Stephanie Innes, Clergy Abuse Victims Here to Get $7.5M, AZ Daily Star, Jul. 17, 2007, http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/192060.
[93] AP, What to know about the Los Angeles Catholic Church’s $880M settlement with sexual abuse victims, AP News, Oct. 17, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-church-sexual-abuse-settlement-8d04f5c8da061462f04be59b73cc3e92.
[94] Katrina Romero, Woman Molested by Pinoy Priest Receives $500,000 Settlement, Balita, Dec. 17, 2007.
[95] Rita M. v. Roman Cath. Archbishop, 187 Cal. App. 3d 1453, 232 Cal. Rptr. 685 (Ct. App. 1986) (dismissed over SOL).
[96] “Order Dismissing Case” (2007), Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy. 67. https://elibrary.law.psu.edu/bankruptcy/67.
[97] Marie T. Reilly, Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy, 49 Seton Hall L. Rev. 871, 923 (2019).
[98] Frank Mickadeit, O.C. Chaplain Cited in Pedophile Documents, Orange County Reg., Oct. 28, 2010, http://www.ocregister.com/articles/amora-273190-diego-san.html.
[99] Hoa Quach, Former Poway Priest Included in Sexual Abuse Records, Poway Patch, Oct. 23, 2010, http://poway.patch.com/articles/former-poway-priest-included-in-sexual-abuse-records.
[100] Id.
[101] Sandi Dolbee & Mark Sauer, Settled: $198 Million, Union-Tribune, Sept. 8, 2007, http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070908-9999-1n8settle.html.
[102] AP, SoCal Street Named for Clergy Sex Suspect Renamed, Jan. 25, 2009, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2009/01_02/2009_01_25_AP_SocalStreet.htm.
[103] Peter Row & Kristina Davis, San Diego’s Catholic diocese adds eight priests to list of sexual predators, San Diego Union-Trib., Sept. 13, 2018, http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/religion/sd-me-abusive-priests-20180906-story.html.
[104] Sandi Dolbee & Susan Gembrowski, Local Diocese Admits Settling in Molest Case, San Diego Union-Trib., Jul.4, 2002.
[105] Henry K. Lee, Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese Settles Abuse Case for $5 million, S.F. Chron., Sept. 13, 2007, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2007/09_10/2007_09_13_Lee_SantaRosa.htm.
[106] Richard Brooks & Chris Richard, San Bernardino Diocese Settles 11 Sexual-Abuse Cases, The Press-Enterprise, Sept. 7, 2007, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2007/09_10/2007_09_07_Brooks_SanBernardino.htm.
[107] Chris Collins, Priest’s Case to Be Settled, Fresno Bee, May 5, 2007, http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/45876.html.
[108] Rachanee Srisavaski, Diocese Settles 4 Sex Abuse Claims, Orange County Reg., Oct. 6, 2007, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2007_10_06_Srisavasdi_DioceseSettles.htm.
[109] Rob Dennis, Jeremy Herb, Matthew Artz and Chris De Benedetti, Priests Served Despite Abuse Complaints, S.J. Merc. News, March 31, 2008, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2008/03_04/2008_03_31_Dennis_PriestsServed.htm.
[110] AP, Salesian Order Settles LA Clergy Sex Abuse Suit for $19.5m, Modesto Bee, May 15, 2008, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2008/05_06/2008_05_15_AP_SalesianOrder.htm.
[111] Jeremy Herb & Rob Dennis, Abuse Was Common in Religious Order, S.J. Merc. News, Apr. 1, 2008, http://www.mercurynews.com/crime/ci_8768268.
[112] Joey Piscitelli, The Salesian Province of San Francisco—A Loyal Nest of Accused Child Molesters, Nov. 25, 2018, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2018/11_12/2018_11_25_Joey_com_The_ndash.htm.
[113] Kay Ebeling, New Cases in L.A. Re Father Michael Baker & Brother Modesto Leon Going through Court System, City of Angels, Jul. 27. 2009.
[114] Stephanie Innes, 2nd Diocese Adds $1.2M to Settlement for Molesting, AZ Daily Star, Jun. 3, 2009,
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/295496.
[115] John Does 4A & 4B & Roman Catholic Bishop of Stockton v. American National Fire Insurance Co., Case No. A123187 (Ct. App. Cal., 1st Dist. Div 4).
[116] Manly Stewart, $2.2M Global Settlement, https://www.manlystewart.com/case-results/archdiocese-of-los-angeles-sex-abuse-cases.
[117] Kevin Valine, Stockton Diocese Has Settled Another Sex Abuse Claim, Modesto Bee, Dec. 16, 2010, http://www.modbee.com/2010/12/15/1474106/diocese-has-settled-another-sex.html.
[118] Manly Stewart, $1.5M Global Settlement, https://www.manlystewart.com/case-results/roman-catholic-archbishop-la-child-sexual-abuse.
[119] Mercury News, Oc Diocese Settles Sex Abuse Lawsuit with Brothers, Mercury News, Aug. 4, 2011, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2011/07_08/2011_08_04_MercuryNews_OcDiocese.htm.
[120] KTVU, Former Priest at Noe Valley Church Accused of Sexual Abuse, Aug. 11, 2011, http://www.ktvu.com/news/28829974/detail.html.
[121] Joelle Casteix, Victims Settle with Three CA Dioceses, SNAP, Sept. 26, 2013, https://www.snapnetwork.org/ca_victims_settle_with_three_ca_dioceses.
[122] Fry, supra, n. 23.
[123] Kion, Monterey Diocese Settles Lawsuit against Priest in Sex Abuse Case, Feb. 17, 2012, http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/16962652/monterey-diocese-settle-lawsuit-againgt-priest-in-sex-abuse-case.
[124] BishopAccountability.Org, Child Molesting Priest to Be Sentenced Today, The Patch, Aug. 24, 2012, http://losalamitos.patch.com/articles/child-molesting-priest-to-be-sentenced-today-c7217c48.
[125] Peter Larson, Ex-priest Gets Year in Jail for Molestation, Orange County Reg., Aug. 24, 2012, http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lyons-369466-victim-court.html.
[126] Andrew Galvin, Diocese Settles with Man Who Claimed Sexual Abuse, Orange County Reg., Feb. 27, 2009, http://www.ocregister.com/articles/diocese-kirrer-lyons-2320872-brought-account.
[127] Virginia Hennessey, Fugitive Priest Misses Another Court Date, Losing Lawsuit, Monterey County Herald, Jun. 16, 2013, http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_23465063/fugitive-priest-misses-another-court-date-losing-lawsuit.
[128] Nick Welsh, Los Angeles Diocese Settles Sex Abuse Claims for $13 Million, Santa Barbara Ind., Feb. 19, 2014, https://www.independent.com/2014/02/19/los-angeles-diocese-settles-sex-abuse-claims-13-million/.
[129] Brenda Gazzar, Ex-Crespi Carmelite student gets 5-figure settlement for alleged sexual abuse, L.A. Daily News, Mar. 28, 2016, https://www.dailynews.com/2016/03/28/ex-crespi-carmelite-student-gets-5-figure-settlement-for-alleged-sexual-abuse/.
[130] Miller & Zois, California Clergy Sex Abuse Payouts, Lawsuit Information Center, Nov. 17, 2024, https://www.lawsuit-information-center.com/california-sexual-abuse-lawsuits-and-settlements.html.
[131] Toni Mcallister, Sex-molesting Priest Forced Boy to Recite Bible during Attacks? Lawsuit Settled, MyNewsLA, Mar. 21, 2017, http://mynewsla.com/crime/2017/03/21/sex-molesting-priest-forced-boy-to-recite-bible-during-attacks-lawsuit-settled/.
[132] City News Service, LA Archdiocese Settles Suit Alleging Former Redondo Beach Priest Sexually Abused a Covina Boy in 2001 and 2002, http://tbrnews.com/news/la-archdiocese-settles-suit-alleging-former-redondo-beach-priest-sexually/article_bd6f47ac-1f3e-11e9-9b5f-0bb915e4bf45.html.
[133] DeMarco Law Firm, 2022 $3.75 Million Settlement, https://www.demarcolawfirm.com/settlements/.
[134] DeMarco Law Firm, https://www.demarcolawfirm.com/settlements/.
[135] Id.
[136] Redwood Times, Calif. Diocese Settles 2 Abuse Suits for $3.8m, Feb. 10, 2014, http://www.redwoodtimes.com/statenews/ci_25103220/calif-diocese-settles-2-abuse-suits-3-8m.
[137] Manly Stewart, 3.8M Global Settlement, https://www.manlystewart.com/case-results/roman-catholic-diocese-of-stockton-sex-abuse-cases-2.
[138] Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340.1, CHILD USA, National Overview of Statutes of Limitation (SOLs) for Child Sex Abuse, Mar. 7, 2024, https://childusa.org/2024sol/.
[139] Nelson, supra, n. 14.
[140] Manly Stewart, $9.9M Global Settlement, https://www.manlystewart.com/case-results/roman-catholic-archbishop-of-la-sex-abuse-cases.
[141] PR Newswire, Independent Compensation Program For Victims of Sexual Abuse by Diocesan Priests In California Concludes, Sep. 2, 2021, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/independent-compensation-program-for-victims-of-sexual-abuse-by-diocesan-priests-in-california-concludes-301368050.html.
[142] BishopAccountability.Org, Monsignor John O’Donnell – Archdiocese of Los Angeles,
[143] Levy Law, California Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits, p. 7, https://www.levylaw.com/california-catholic-church-sexual-abuse-lawsuits; Feeney Law Firm, Priest Abuse Case Against Archdiocese of Los Angeles Settled for $1.9 million, Jun. 24, 2020, https://feeneylawfirm.com/priest-abuse-case-against-archdiocese-of-los-angeles-settled-for-1-9-million/.
[144] BishopAccountability.Org, Father Denis Ginty – Archdiocese of Los Angeles,
[145] Greg Moran, As Window for Sex-abuse Lawsuits Opens, Alleged Victims Begin Filing against Catholic Church and Boy Scouts, L.A. Times, Jan. 2, 2020, http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070908-9999-1n8settle.html.
[146] Greg Moran, As Window for Sex-abuse Lawsuits Opens, Alleged Victims Begin Filing against Catholic Church and Boy Scouts, L.A. Times, Jan. 2, 2020, http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070908-9999-1n8settle.html.
[147] Emery, $10 Million, and Emery, Catholic, supra, n. .
[148] Id.
[149] Madalaine Elhabbal, Largest-Ever Settlement Reached in Sex Abuse Case Involving Notorious California Priest, Catholic Vote, Jan. 30, 2024, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2024/01/largest-ever-settlement-reached-in-sex-abuse-case-involving-notorious-california-priest/.
[150] Emery, $10 Million, and Emery, Catholic, supra, n. .
[151] Id.
[152] Id.
[153] AP, supra, n. 93.
[154] Fry, supra, n. 23.
[155] San Roman, supra, n. 25.
[156] Manly, Stewart, $2M Global Settlement, https://www.manlystewart.com/case-results/roman-catholic-bishop-of-orange-sex-abuse-cases-3.
[157] Joe Kukura, Oakland Catholic Diocese Accused of Hiding $106 Million in Assets So They Wouldn’t Have to Pay Sex Abuse Victims, SFIST, Dec. 23, 2024, https://sfist.com/2024/12/23/oakland-catholic-diocese-accused-of-hiding-106-million-in-assets-so-they-wouldnt-have-to-pay-sex-abuse-victims/.
[158] Id.