Minnesota judge: archdiocese not responsible for legal fees in abuse victims’ appeal of court ruling

December 14, 2016

A federal bankruptcy-court judge in Minnesota has ruled that the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis is not responsible for the $355,000 in legal fees incurred by sex-abuse victims who had sought to include the resources of Catholic parishes and schools in the accounting of archdiocesan assets available to creditors.

Under the terms of a proposed bankruptcy agreement, the archdiocese is responsible for legal fees associated with the case. But the archdiocese is not responsible for the fees incurred during the unsuccessful appeal, Judge Robert Kessel ruled.

Legal fees in the bankruptcy case have already run over $10 million. The judge authorized the payment of some fees, and said that a further accounting would be made when the plan for reorganization of the archdiocesan finances is approved.

 

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Further information:

• Judge: Archdiocese not responsible for appeal fees in bankruptcy (Catholic Spirit)
• Bankruptcy costs for Minnesota archdiocese near $12 million (CWN, 12/1)