On eve of Chicago installation, Archbishop-elect Cupich blasted by Spokane law firm

November 13, 2014

On the eve of his installation as leader of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Archbishop-elect Blase Cupich has been accused of a “money grab” in his lawsuit against a Spokane, Washington law firm.

In January the Spokane diocese, under the direction of Bishop Cupich, filed suit against Paine Hamblen, the law firm that had a bankruptcy case of the diocese. The suit charged that the firm had conflicts of interests, and had failed to make proper preparations for subsequent claims by sex-abuse victims. The case is scheduled for trial in February 2015.

In a response to the diocesan complaint, filed this week, Paine Hamblen argues that the complaint is without merit. The law firm cites a former vicar general of the Spokane diocese, Father Steve Dublinski, who quoted Bishop Cupich as saying: “We are throwing mud at Paine Hamblen to see if any mud sticks.”

Father Dublinski, who had been involved in settling the bankruptcy case before Bishop Cupich arrived in Spokane in 2010, resigned his post as vicar general in August, citing “irreconcilable” differences over diocesan policies.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Bishop Cupich’s ex-vicar general critical of Catholic lawsuit against Paine Hamblen (Spokesman-Review)
• Catholic Diocese of Spokane lawsuit trial date set (Spokesman-Review)