the road to hana wrote: I think those "millions" are generally settlements to large numbers of individuals. What they each get individually could be much less.
What drove the Portland Archdioses into bankruptcy was two suits, one for $130 million and one for $25 million. These were in the names of two individuals, not groups.
I'm not disputing your understanding, but media reports vary from your account. This article states the settlement went to 143 individuals, with a possible 26 additional future ones.
the road to hana wrote: I think those "millions" are generally settlements to large numbers of individuals. What they each get individually could be much less.
What drove the Portland Archdioses into bankruptcy was two suits, one for $130 million and one for $25 million. These were in the names of two individuals, not groups.
I'm not disputing your understanding, but media reports vary from your account. This article states the settlement went to 143 individuals, with a possible 26 additional future ones.
This is from the letter that was sent to the parishoners when the bankruptcy was filed.
"This is not an effort to avoid responsibility. It is, in fact, the only way I can assure that other claimants can be offered fair compensation. We have worked diligently to settle claims of clergy misconduct. In the last four years, we have settled more than 100 such claims. Last year alone the Archdiocese paid almost $21 million from its own funds. Major insurers have abandoned us and are not paying what they should on the claims.
"Two cases are set for trials beginning today. One plaintiff seeks more than $130 million in compensatory and punitive damages, the other $25 million. We have made every effort to settle these claims fairly but the demand of each of these plaintiffs remains in the millions. I am committed to just compensation. These demands go beyond compensation. With 60 other claims pending, I cannot in justice and prudence pay the demands of these two plaintiffs."
I live in the Portland metro area. I am very familiar with this case.
the road to hana wrote: I think those "millions" are generally settlements to large numbers of individuals. What they each get individually could be much less.
What drove the Portland Archdioses into bankruptcy was two suits, one for $130 million and one for $25 million. These were in the names of two individuals, not groups.
I'm not disputing your understanding, but media reports vary from your account. This article states the settlement went to 143 individuals, with a possible 26 additional future ones.
This is from the letter that was sent to the parishoners when the bankruptcy was filed.
"This is not an effort to avoid responsibility. It is, in fact, the only way I can assure that other claimants can be offered fair compensation. We have worked diligently to settle claims of clergy misconduct. In the last four years, we have settled more than 100 such claims. Last year alone the Archdiocese paid almost $21 million from its own funds. Major insurers have abandoned us and are not paying what they should on the claims.
"Two cases are set for trials beginning today. One plaintiff seeks more than $130 million in compensatory and punitive damages, the other $25 million. We have made every effort to settle these claims fairly but the demand of each of these plaintiffs remains in the millions. I am committed to just compensation. These demands go beyond compensation. With 60 other claims pending, I cannot in justice and prudence pay the demands of these two plaintiffs."
I live in the Portland metro area. I am very familiar with this case.
charity wrote:"Two cases are set for trials beginning today. One plaintiff seeks more than $130 million in compensatory and punitive damages, the other $25 million. We have made every effort to settle these claims fairly but the demand of each of these plaintiffs remains in the millions. I am committed to just compensation. These demands go beyond compensation. With 60 other claims pending, I cannot in justice and prudence pay the demands of these two plaintiffs."
I live in the Portland metro area. I am very familiar with this case.
Just remember - what they ask for and what they get are two totally different things. Have the two cases been decided? What were the final awards?
And let's also remember that in many (most?) of these cases involving the Catholic church, it's not just the actions of a priest that were the problem; it was also the fact that the church knew about the priests molesting children, and would transfer them into new positions that were identical, while hiding the fact of the previous molestation. In other words, there was direct knowledge of the acts and cover up that led to additional cases of molestation - big no-no. That's why the church has been liable.
I may be going to hell in a bucket, babe / But at least I'm enjoying the ride.
-Grateful Dead (lyrics by John Perry Barlow)
the road to hana wrote: I think those "millions" are generally settlements to large numbers of individuals. What they each get individually could be much less.
What drove the Portland Archdioses into bankruptcy was two suits, one for $130 million and one for $25 million. These were in the names of two individuals, not groups.
I'm not disputing your understanding, but media reports vary from your account. This article states the settlement went to 143 individuals, with a possible 26 additional future ones.
This is from the letter that was sent to the parishoners when the bankruptcy was filed.
"This is not an effort to avoid responsibility. It is, in fact, the only way I can assure that other claimants can be offered fair compensation. We have worked diligently to settle claims of clergy misconduct. In the last four years, we have settled more than 100 such claims. Last year alone the Archdiocese paid almost $21 million from its own funds. Major insurers have abandoned us and are not paying what they should on the claims.
"Two cases are set for trials beginning today. One plaintiff seeks more than $130 million in compensatory and punitive damages, the other $25 million. We have made every effort to settle these claims fairly but the demand of each of these plaintiffs remains in the millions. I am committed to just compensation. These demands go beyond compensation. With 60 other claims pending, I cannot in justice and prudence pay the demands of these two plaintiffs."
I live in the Portland metro area. I am very familiar with this case.
This letter from April 2007 says they originally had more than 2000 claims, which is really phenomenal.
(Edited to clarify: Never mind. I can see on rereading that sentence that I misread it initially, and that it was referring to the year 2000, and not 2000 claims. Turns out it was more like 140+.)
Last edited by Guest on Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
The road is beautiful, treacherous, and full of twists and turns.
skippy the dead wrote:And let's also remember that in many (most?) of these cases involving the Catholic church, it's not just the actions of a priest that were the problem; it was also the fact that the church knew about the priests molesting children, and would transfer them into new positions that were identical, while hiding the fact of the previous molestation. In other words, there was direct knowledge of the acts and cover up that led to additional cases of molestation - big no-no. That's why the church has been liable.
In the lawsuit advanced on this thread, similar claims are made against the LDS Church. Do you think the LDS Church should be in any way liable in such an instance, if they covered up, suppressed evidence, even possibly transferred him and offered him employment?
The road is beautiful, treacherous, and full of twists and turns.
skippy the dead wrote:And let's also remember that in many (most?) of these cases involving the Catholic church, it's not just the actions of a priest that were the problem; it was also the fact that the church knew about the priests molesting children, and would transfer them into new positions that were identical, while hiding the fact of the previous molestation. In other words, there was direct knowledge of the acts and cover up that led to additional cases of molestation - big no-no. That's why the church has been liable.
In the lawsuit advanced on this thread, similar claims are made against the LDS Church. Do you think the LDS Church should be in any way liable in such an instance, if they covered up, suppressed evidence, even possibly transferred him and offered him employment?
Based on what I've seen, the LDS church has no liability with respect to the abuse that may have taken place (with respect to the woman plaintiff), nor any subsequent abuse by her father (as directly opposed to the actions and responsibility of the Catholic church). The LDS church has no obligation to excommunicate someone or to deny him employment based on allegations of abuse. Nor does the LDS church have an obligation to announce claims of abuse against its members. "Suppressing evidence" only comes into play if there was some sort of criminal or civil action brought, which there apparently was not until the instant lawsuit. So even if it were true, there was no associated lawsuit and so no wrong-doing. I really can't figure out what these folks are trying to do with their lawsuit.
I may be going to hell in a bucket, babe / But at least I'm enjoying the ride.
-Grateful Dead (lyrics by John Perry Barlow)
I'd trust a catholic priest before I'd trust a school teacher or principal. I think it's somehow morally worse when a priest does stuff like that, but it happens more in schools than in churches, more by teachers than by priests.
skippy the dead wrote: I really can't figure out what these folks are trying to do with their lawsuit.
Isn't it called going after the deep pocket? A pure example of greed, in my opinion.
I actually think it's something other than the deep pocket or greed. It appears to me (from the outside looking in, not knowing these people) that they have an ax to grind, and they think this will embarrass the people involved. There's no money to be found here.
I may be going to hell in a bucket, babe / But at least I'm enjoying the ride.
-Grateful Dead (lyrics by John Perry Barlow)