LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION
Davenport Diocese
Davenport, IA: (Dec-03-07) Over 156 plaintiffs brought charges against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport in Iowa, claiming that they were sexually abused by clergy members. The victims alleged that priests as well as lower level employees molested them in the late 1930s. As part of a settlement reached, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport announced that it has agreed to a $37 million settlement to compensate victims of sexual abuse. Officials stated that the money will be divided among 156 people who claimed abuse. The diocese is said to be the last of five to reach such a settlement after filing for bankruptcy rather than face what would probably be a barrage of lawsuits.
Under the agreement reached with the diocese, victims will be allowed to speak about their experiences at parishes and through articles in the diocesan newspaper. The newspaper will also publish the offenders' names. The diocese filed for bankruptcy in October 2006 shortly after a jury awarded $1.5 million to a sexual abuse victim, and amid a crush of abuse claims from others. After a year of negotiations between church officials and victims, a settlement was reached following days of negotiations. [NEW YORK TIMES: CLERGY ABUSE]
Published on Dec-4-07
Under the agreement reached with the diocese, victims will be allowed to speak about their experiences at parishes and through articles in the diocesan newspaper. The newspaper will also publish the offenders' names. The diocese filed for bankruptcy in October 2006 shortly after a jury awarded $1.5 million to a sexual abuse victim, and amid a crush of abuse claims from others. After a year of negotiations between church officials and victims, a settlement was reached following days of negotiations. [
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