Archdiocese of Los Angeles Reaches $880 Million in Child Abuse Settlement

The settlement addresses over 1,300 cases filed after the passage of California’s bill, AB-218

An in-principle settlement agreement has been reached between the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and plaintiffs representing 1,353 child sexual abuse claims totaling $880 million. The settlement, announced by the plaintiffs’ liaison committee and archdiocese attorney Kirk Dillman, comes after California Assembly Bill 218 (AB 218) opened a three-year window allowing survivors to file civil lawsuits alleging past sexual abuse of minors.

The Plaintiffs Liaison Committee released a statement recognizing the strength of the survivors who have come forward: “While no amount of money can replace what was taken from these 1,353 brave individuals, there is justice in accountability. We are grateful to the survivors who worked to protect future generations and appreciate the Archdiocese’s recognition of its failures. We remain hopeful that the Archdiocese will prevent future abuses.”

The mediation process, overseen by retired Judge Daniel J. Buckley, began in the fall of 2023, following the revival of AB 218. The goal was to find a solution that would provide compensation to survivors while allowing the archdiocese to continue its mission.

In a statement, archdiocese attorney Kirk Dillman thanked the efforts of Judge Buckley and others involved in the settlement. “The archdiocese apologizes for the harm caused by individuals within the church and contributed to the suffering of survivors,” he said.

The settlement terms will now be reviewed by plaintiffs’ counsel to ensure necessary approvals. Once approved, the plaintiffs will initiate a separate proceeding independent of the archdiocese to determine how the funds will be distributed.

As part of the settlement, the archdiocese will update its list of released clergy files to include additional information from the AB 218 claims. The settlement funds will come from archdiocesan reserves, investments, bank financing, and contributions from various religious orders and other defendants involved in the litigation. This agreement follows an earlier settlement in 2007, when the archdiocese paid $660 million to resolve over 500 abuse claims.