The “look back” window for filing sexual abuse claims is June 1, 2027.
February 2026- filed claims are currently being evaluated.
A federal judge in December 2025 approved a landmark $305 million bankruptcy settlement for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, resolving claims from approximately 600 clergy sexual abuse survivors. The deal, which includes a $75 million contribution from insurer Travelers, concludes over five years of litigation and mandates new transparency, including a public archive of abuse documents.
Key details of the settlement:
- Total Compensation: The deal includes a $230 million contribution from the archdiocese, parishes, and schools, plus $75 million from insurer Travelers.
- Victims Included: The settlement compensates about 600 individuals who suffered sexual abuse by priests and deacons.
- Protection Reforms: The agreement mandates the adoption of a “survivors’ bill of rights,” the inclusion of a survivor on the internal review board, and independent monitoring of child protection practices.
- Transparency: A public archive will be established to disclose previously withheld documents regarding abuse claims.
- Outcome: The settlement concluded the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed in May 2020, with payments expected to be distributed in 2026.
The settlement was approved following testimony from survivors and a three-week trial to assess the fairness of the deal, which was overwhelmingly approved by victims in October 2025.
May 5, 2025 – Motion to Dismiss Bankruptcy was filed on behalf of certain abuse victims. A preliminary hearing has been set by telephone for counsel on 5/29/25 at 1:30 pm.
Mediations were held April 1-4, 2025 and were unsuccessful. Plaintiffs counsels are discussing a new plan of action on moving forward to hold the abusers accountable.
- The Archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2020 to limit its liability from hundreds of claims of clergy abuse, spanning decades.
- The bankruptcy case has been highly contentious, with over $40 million in legal fees incurred by the Archdiocese.
- The case involves allegations of child sexual abuse, including one case where a retired priest pleaded guilty to child rape, according to The Guardian.
- The archdiocese and clergy abuse survivors remain far apart in settlement negotiations, with the survivors seeking $1 billion in compensation.
- The Archdiocese has been selling off real estate and is preparing to discontinue its newspaper’s print edition to help fund a potential settlement.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/31/new-orleans-archdiocese-child-sex-abuse-settlement
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/02/new-orleans-clergy-abuse-survivors-judge
