Attorneys for the Plaintiff’s Liaison Committee, along with Kirk Dillman, counsel for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, announced today that a settlement agreement has been reached in principle for the payment of $880 million. The settlement resolves 1,353 childhood sexual abuse claims filed against the Archdiocese following the enactment of California Assembly Bill 218 (AB 218), which opened a three-year window for reviving past civil claims of sexual abuse involving minors.
"While no amount of money can replace what was taken from these 1,353 brave individuals who have suffered in silence for decades, there is justice in accountability," said the Plaintiffs’ Liaison Committee in a joint statement. "We are grateful to the survivors for coming forward to hold those responsible accountable and protect future generations. We also appreciate the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for acknowledging its failures that allowed this harm to occur, and we remain hopeful they will work vigilantly to prevent future abuses."
Mediation began in the Fall of 2023 before retired Judge Daniel J. Buckley, after the close of the Assembly Bill 218 revival window. The goal was to seek a resolution that would provide compensation to survivor-victims while allowing the Archdiocese to continue its ministries. The mediation involved various defendants, including the Archdiocese and several religious orders.
“The Archdiocese is grateful for the efforts of Judge Buckley, the Plaintiffs’ Liaison Committee, and the law firms representing plaintiffs and defendants for their commitment to achieving a fair and just resolution,” said Dillman. "The Archdiocese apologizes for the harm caused by individuals within the Church and acknowledges the pain endured by survivor-victims."
The settlement will be distributed among participating plaintiffs through a process that will not involve the Archdiocese. Additionally, the Archdiocese will supplement its previously released clergy files with information from the AB 218 claims that may not have been included in its 2013 release.
As with the 2007 global settlement, the Archdiocese’s administrative office will fund the settlement using accumulated reserves, investments, bank financing, and other assets. Religious orders and other defendants named in the litigation will also contribute to the settlement. Final implementation of the agreement depends on achieving certain approval levels from all parties involved.
