Oakland Diocese, Sex Abuse Survivors Hit Snag on Payment Timing

The Oakland Diocese and a committee representing about 350 clergy abuse survivors questioned the feasibility of the timing for distributing a potential $244 million settlement for creditors, leaving the bankruptcy judge uncertain how to proceed.

The diocese has always needed five years to pay out sexual abuse survivors, but it can’t reach an agreement to move forward, even with its willingness to pay interest on money distributed in the fourth and fifth year, its attorney Ann Marie Uetz of Foley & Lardner LLP said during a Tuesday status conference in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California. ...