Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's a big day in the bankruptcy process for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.
Wednesday is the deadline for the Diocese to submit its $150 million bankruptcy proposal to the court.
"This is the first day of the final chapter," attorney Steve Boyd, who represents many abuse victims, told WBEN. "The plan will be reviewed in court by all of the parties and by the judge. The judge will make a determination whether that plan can go out for a vote. Then, if the vote is approved, it goes to a confirmation hearing."
Boyd says that confirmation hearing would be the end of the bankruptcy. It's at that point victims would start being paid.
The $150 million settlement figure does not include the additional settlements made, or yet to be made, with various insurance companies.
There is still much controversy within the Diocese over how to pay their part, if individual parishes should contribute, and which of those parishes might close.
Boyd says for his clients, those are separate issues for the Diocese to decide.
"We are not taking any position on what parishes should stay open or closed," Boyd said. "Most of our clients still go to church... We've made a deal, and the deal is $150 million from the Catholic entities, which is a small slice of what these cases would go for if they were brought before a State Supreme Court jury."