NORWICH, Conn. — The Diocese of Norwich filed to cut the amount of money sexual assault victims would otherwise receive in an ongoing settlement, and attorneys representing those survivors said Friday the recent filings are unfair to those impacted.
The attorneys told FOX61 the Diocese wants to cut the amount of money survivors receive and make them relive their trauma in court.
In 2019, the Diocese of Norwich released a list of 43 priests who have been accused of sexual abuse. Since then, at least 140 survivors have come forward.
Two of those survivors spoke to FOX61 Friday. They did not want their names mentioned or used in this story. However, they were willing to share their story on camera. Each of the men was emotional as they spoke.
“It’s a hard thing to tell someone you’ve been molested by someone you trust,” said an unnamed survivor.
As those cases made their way through the legal system, the Diocese filed for bankruptcy, claiming this would help them compensate the victims.
Attorney Kelly Reardon represents dozens of the victims in this case. She told FOX61 that coming to that agreement was a high spot in this case.
“All survivors would be included in a settlement and treated fairly,” Reardon said.
Since then, Reardon said there has been a lot of frustration.
Both sides agreed on a monetary amount. That number most recently came out to a $29 million split between survivors. Originally, it was $32 million.
Attorneys said Friday the Diocese has gone back on that agreement. Now the money has decreased by $3.2 million, bringing the total closer to a $26 million payout.
“That’s not right or consistent with the bishop’s message three years ago that this bankruptcy was intended to compensate all those who were harmed,” Reardon said.
Attorneys said in the new financial plan proposed, the victims would also be subject to questioning in the courtroom about their abuse.
“I have depression, I have anxiety, and there’s not a day in my mind that goes by I just want revenge,” an unnamed survivor said.
This group tells us the next step is meeting with the diocese to try to find a solution that works for everyone. This way, the survivors can try to heal.
“We will go in good faith, but they must recognize the commitment to survivors. They should dig deep and pay the money they committed to pay,” Reardon said.
FOX61 has reached out to the Diocese of Norwich for a statement concerning the new monetary amount and the attorney's claims. Louis DeLucia, a spokesperson representing the Diocese said midday Friday, "The Diocese remains committed to consensually resolving the asserted abuse claims. To that end, the Diocese also sought and welcomes the Court-directed mediation of the their claims and plan disputes, which was actually opposed by those holding today’s press conference.
The Diocese remains steadfast in its belief that its plan will maximize the recovery for claimants, while plaintiffs’ counsel plainly seeks a path of protracted litigation, which does nothing to enhance the recovery for their constituency."
Brooke Griffin is a reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at bgriffin@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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