Church Sexual Abuse Claim Filing Deadline Nears
Church sexual abuse claim filing deadline against the Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese nears. The Santa Rosa Catholic diocese is facing bankruptcy as a result of the many settlements and lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by their clergy members. (This includes claims against the Hanna Boys Center.) Although survivors should have already filed a claim, they have one final chance if they do so before the final deadline for the bankruptcy case, which is set at October 20, 2023. Victims must come forward before that date, or they are barred from making a claim. Much of the alleged abuse occurred to children and teens in the 2000s.
If you have questions or would like help filing a claim, please do not hesitate to reach out to our California child sexual abuse lawyer at Beck Law P.C. today.
Allegations Against the Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese
Many of the church sexual abuse claim filings of child sexual abuse have been lodged against the Santa Rosa diocese. According to reports, there were more than 200 new lawsuits filed against the Santa Rosa diocese in the last several years. Survivors are located across the state of California as well as possibly in other states. The diocese separated the church from the schools, making them separate corporations. One of the aspects of the legal claims against the diocese will be whether they can shield some of their funds through the use of these separate corporations.
The Diocese of Santa Rosa Filed for Bankruptcy Due to Church Sexual Abuse Claim Filings
The Santa Rosa catholic diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Chapter 11 allows for reorganization and repayment of debts. The diocese filed bankruptcy to prevent further legal claims against the church. Once the matter goes to bankruptcy court, the court provides a date by which any debtors must make claims. If someone fails to make a claim before the deadline, they are barred from filing a claim. In this case, the judge set the deadline of October 20, 2023. All claims must be filed by that date in order to be considered for payment.
Claims Can Be Denied
Claims could still be denied, even if they are made by the deadline. This is because, in most cases, a claim of child sexual abuse should have already been made prior to this date. It will be up to the court to determine which claims to allow. The court sent out informative letters to those who could be potential claimants against the Santa Rosa diocese. Anyone who is a victim but has not yet filed a lawsuit should do so quickly. An attorney will review the details of your case and help you file the appropriate claim.
Sexual abuse of children is a serious problem and is often not reported. Once the victim reaches adulthood, they may realize that they were abused and can take legal action against the perpetrator. In this case, abuse may have occurred in a variety of places, such as on church property, in the school, or even on outings or trips sponsored by the church. In some instances, the church administrators did not report the alleged abuse and may have even taken steps to cover up the behavior.
If you or a loved one are the victims of child sexual abuse, do not delay. You may be owed compensation for the harm caused by the perpetrator and/or the diocese. If you live in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco or anywhere in California, contact our California child sex abuse attorney at Beck Law at (707) 576-7175 to request a confidential consultation today.
