Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Catholic Diocese is moving a step closer to finalizing its clergy abuse settlement. Two of the Diocese's insurers have reached an agreement, on top of the $150 million the Diocese must pay.
Attorney Steve Boyd says Wausau and CNA have reached a deal, with Wausau settling for $37.5 million, based on the number of claims it had. CNA has settled for $85 million, and is the largest insurance carrier.
"There are still other insurance carriers, so it's our full expectation that the current number that we are at, which is $272.5 million is going to grow," Boyd added in an interview with WBEN.
Boyd says this is good news for abuse victims.
"It's a major step toward the finalization of this case. A major step toward them finally receiving something for all that they went through as children, all of the things that happened to them as a result of the abuse that happened to them when they were young," he said.
One potential hitch is the filing deadline is this Monday. Boyd says that's not unexpected.
"When you have a settlement with a major carrier like this, they're going to want some input into the bankruptcy plan that is going to be filed," Boyd explained. "So the original deadline was Sept. 1. The Diocese had asked Judge [Carl] Bucki for an extension to Oct. 1. That gives us time for two things: One, for the insurance carriers that have settled to work out the language of that settlement with the diocese and the committee, and two, for us to continue to negotiate with the remaining insurance carriers."
Boyd adds negotiations are ongoing, and the mediator and all of the sides are working very hard to try to reach some sort of an agreement. He anticipates the amount will grow as negotiations continue.