Active litigationUPDATED JUL 2026

Catholic Church Abuse Lawsuit Tracker

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Active litigationUpdated JUL 19, 2026

Sexual abuse perpetrated by Catholic clergy — priests, deacons, brothers, bishops, and other Church officials — is one of the most extensively documented institutional abuse crises in American history. The 2002 Boston Globe Spotlight investigation exposed systemic cover-up by the Archdiocese of Boston, triggering a nationwide reckoning. Since then, over 30 dioceses have filed for bankruptcy protection and more than $4 billion in settlements have been paid to survivors across the United States. Today, many survivors who experienced abuse decades ago have renewed legal options through state lookback windows — temporary legislation that suspends the statute of limitations and opens a new filing period — and through diocesan bankruptcy claims processes with court-supervised compensation funds. California's lookback window is open through December 2027. Louisiana's window is open through June 2027. New York opens a new lookback window in March 2026. The Diocese of Alexandria's bankruptcy claims deadline is June 8, 2026. If you experienced abuse by a Catholic clergyman, speaking with an attorney now can clarify exactly what options remain available to you.

From the docket

Litigation Timeline

23 ENTRIES
  1. July 2026

    Abuse Accountability Attorney Speaks Out; Veterans Bill Introducedfiling

    John Manly, an attorney known for representing survivors in the Larry Nassar case, publicly criticized what he described as an institutional culture that fails victims of abuse, according to Fox News. Separately, U.S. House Bill 9237, the VITAL Act of 2026, was introduced on July 16, 2026, per LegiScan — though its direct connection to church abuse litigation has not been established by available signals.

  2. July 2026

    Veterans SOL Reform Bill Introduced in Congressfiling

    US HB9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act (VITAL Act of 2026), was introduced in Congress with a last recorded action date of July 16, 2026, according to LegiScan. The bill's full implications for abuse survivors and statutes of limitations remain under review as its status is listed as unknown.

  3. July 2026

    DC Introduces Bill That May Affect Church Abuse Claimsregulatory

    The District of Columbia introduced B26-0720, the Fletcher-Johnson Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026, with a last recorded action date of July 14, 2026. The bill's status is listed as unknown. It is being monitored for potential relevance to Catholic Church abuse litigation timelines in DC. People's Justice is an information platform, not a law firm.

  4. July 2026

    DC Introduces Property Bill That May Touch Church Abuse Claimsfiling

    The District of Columbia introduced B26-0720, the Fletcher-Johnson Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026, with a last recorded action date of July 14, 2026. The bill addresses how surplus property is declared and disposed of, which advocates note could have implications for assets connected to Catholic Church abuse litigation in the District. The bill's current status is listed as unknown.

  5. July 2026

    DC Bill Introduced Addressing Surplus Property Dispositionfiling

    On July 14, 2026, DC Bill B26-0720 — the Fletcher-Johnson Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026 — was introduced in the District of Columbia. The bill addresses rules around how surplus property is declared and disposed of. Its status is listed as unknown, and its potential impact on Catholic Church abuse litigation in DC has not yet been determined.

  6. July 2026

    DC Introduces Bill That May Affect Church Abuse Property Claimsregulatory

    The District of Columbia introduced B26-0720, the Fletcher-Johnson Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026, with a last recorded action date of July 14, 2026. The bill addresses how surplus property is declared and disposed of, which advocates note may be relevant to church-owned assets in abuse litigation. The bill's current status is listed as unknown.

  7. July 2026

    DC Introduces Bill That May Affect Church Property in Abuse Casesfiling

    The District of Columbia introduced B26-0720, the Fletcher-Johnson Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026, with a last recorded action date of July 14, 2026. The bill addresses how surplus property is declared and disposed of, which may have relevance to church asset proceedings in the district. The bill's current status is listed as unknown.

  8. July 2026

    DC Legislature Introduces Bill That May Affect Church Abuse Proceedingsfiling

    The DC Council introduced B26-0720, the Fletcher-Johnson Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026, with a last recorded action date of July 14, 2026. The bill addresses surplus property declaration and disposition processes, which may have implications for assets tied to Catholic Church abuse litigation in the District. The bill's current status is listed as unknown, according to LegiScan.

  9. July 2026

    DC Introduces Bill That May Affect Church Asset Dispositionfiling

    The District of Columbia introduced B26-0720, the Fletcher-Johnson Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026, with a last recorded action date of July 14, 2026. The bill addresses how surplus property is declared and disposed of, which may have relevance to asset-related proceedings in Catholic Church abuse cases in the district. The bill's current status is listed as unknown.

  10. July 2026

    DC Legislature Introduces Bill That May Affect Church Asset Dispositionfiling

    DC B26-0720, the Fletcher-Johnson Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026, was introduced in the District of Columbia legislature with a last recorded action date of July 14, 2026. The bill addresses how surplus property is declared and disposed of, which legal observers note may have implications for institutional asset management in abuse-related civil proceedings. The bill's current status is listed as unknown.

  11. July 2026

    DC Introduces Bill That May Touch Church Property in Abuse Casesregulatory

    On July 14, 2026, the District of Columbia introduced B26-0720, the Fletcher-Johnson Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026. The bill addresses how surplus property is declared and disposed of, which may have relevance to Catholic Church abuse litigation in the district. The bill's status is listed as unknown, according to LegiScan.

  12. July 2026

    DC Introduces Property Bill That May Touch Church Abuse Casesfiling

    The District of Columbia introduced B26-0720, the Fletcher-Johnson Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026, with a last recorded action date of July 14, 2026. The bill addresses how surplus property is declared and disposed of, which may have relevance to assets connected to Catholic Church abuse litigation in DC. The bill's current status is listed as unknown, according to the LegiScan legislative tracker.

  13. July 2026

    DC Introduces Bill That May Affect Church Abuse Propertyregulatory

    The District of Columbia introduced B26-0720, the Fletcher-Johnson Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2026, with a last recorded action date of July 14, 2026. The bill addresses how surplus property is declared and disposed of, which may have relevance to assets connected to Catholic Church abuse litigation in DC. The bill's current status is listed as unknown.

  14. July 2026

    Delaware Introduces SOL Reform Bill for Minor Sexual Abuse Civil Claimsregulatory

    Delaware House Bill 75 was introduced to amend Title 10 of the Delaware Code relating to the statute of limitations for civil claims based on sexual abuse of a minor. The bill's status is listed as unknown following its last recorded action on July 1, 2026. This legislative development may be relevant to survivors pursuing civil claims related to Catholic Church abuse in Delaware.

  15. July 2026

    Delaware Introduces SOL Reform Bill for Child Sexual Abuse Civil Claimsfiling

    Delaware House Bill 75 (HB75) was introduced to amend Title 10 of the Delaware Code, targeting the statute of limitations for civil claims based on sexual abuse of a minor. The bill's status is listed as unknown following its last recorded action on July 1, 2026. If enacted, the legislation could affect the window of time available for survivors to bring civil claims in Delaware courts.

  16. June 2026

    Florida General Appropriations Bill H5001 Records Late-June Actionfiling

    Florida House Bill 5001, the General Appropriations Act, recorded a last action on June 29, 2026, according to LegiScan. The bill's current status is listed as unknown. Appropriations legislation can sometimes carry provisions that affect statutes of limitations relevant to abuse claims, though no such specific provision has been confirmed in the available signal.

  17. June 2026

    Florida General Appropriations Bill H5001 Records June 2026 Actionfiling

    Florida's General Appropriations Act, H5001, recorded a last legislative action on June 29, 2026, according to LegiScan. The bill's current status is listed as unknown. No direct changes to statutes of limitations for abuse claims have been confirmed from this signal.

  18. March 2026

    NYC GMVA Lookback Window Opens — March 2026legislative

    New York City opened a new lookback window in March 2026 under Intro 1297-A, an amendment to the city's Gender-Motivated Violence Act passed January 29, 2026 over a mayoral veto. The amendment followed a court ruling dismissing more than 450 abuse suits against city-run juvenile detention centers, and lets survivors of abuse in NYC on or before January 9, 2022 bring claims against institutions that enabled it. Reports place the window's end between March and September 2027 — confirm the current deadline before relying on it.

  19. October 31, 2025

    Diocese of Alexandria Files Chapter 11 — October 2025litigation

    The Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on October 31, 2025 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The Diocese had published a list of over 20 clergy members with credible abuse allegations prior to filing. The Diocese covers central and northwest Louisiana — a largely rural area where survivors have had limited access to specialized clergy abuse legal counsel. The bankruptcy court set a claims bar date of June 8, 2026. Survivors of abuse by Diocese of Alexandria clergy — whether the abuse occurred in parishes, Catholic schools, youth programs, or other institutional settings — must file a proof of claim with the bankruptcy court by June 8, 2026. This is the most urgent individual deadline in current U.S. Catholic clergy abuse litigation.

  20. 2021–2025

    Wave of Diocesan Bankruptcies — 2021–2025litigation

    Facing massive claim volumes generated by state lookback windows, more than 30 U.S. Catholic dioceses filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy between 2021 and 2025. Major bankruptcy filings include: Diocese of Buffalo (2020, $150M settlement, ~900 claims); Diocese of Rochester (2019, $246M settlement, July 2025); Archdiocese of New Orleans (2020, $305M settlement, February 2026); Diocese of San Diego (active, ~400 lawsuits); Diocese of Fresno (mid-2025, active). Each bankruptcy establishes a court-supervised claims process with a bar date. Survivors with claims against bankrupt dioceses must file proofs of claim by the bar date or be forever barred from the compensation fund.

  21. 2020–2021

    COVID-19 Extensions and Expanded Lookback Windows — 2020–2021legislative

    The COVID-19 pandemic prompted multiple states to extend their clergy abuse lookback windows and toll limitations periods. New York extended its lookback window through August 2021. California enacted AB 218 in 2019 (effective January 2020), opening a 3-year lookback window for institutional childhood sexual abuse claims. Louisiana enacted its lookback window in June 2021. Nevada and Maine enacted permanent elimination of the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims. These legislative actions dramatically expanded the universe of survivors with viable legal options, setting the stage for the wave of diocesan bankruptcy filings that followed as dioceses faced unprecedented claim volumes.

  22. February 14, 2019

    New York Child Victims Act Signed — February 2019legislative

    New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Child Victims Act into law on February 14, 2019. The Act created a one-year lookback window (later extended) during which adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse could file civil lawsuits regardless of when the abuse occurred, effectively eliminating the statute of limitations barrier for historical claims. The lookback window generated over 11,000 filed claims — vastly exceeding legislative estimates — demonstrating the scale of unresolved abuse claims held by survivors who had been legally barred from filing. The Diocese of Buffalo and Diocese of Rochester filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in response to the volume of claims. The Child Victims Act became the model for similar lookback window legislation in dozens of other states.

  23. January 2002

    Boston Globe Spotlight Investigation — January 2002investigative

    The Boston Globe's Spotlight investigative team published its landmark investigation of systematic sexual abuse and cover-up in the Archdiocese of Boston, revealing that Cardinal Bernard Law and diocesan leadership had transferred Fr. John Geoghan between parishes over three decades despite receiving more than 130 complaints of child sexual abuse. The investigation demonstrated that the cover-up was systemic — not the work of individual bad actors — and triggered cascading investigations across U.S. dioceses. Cardinal Law resigned in December 2002. The Archdiocese of Boston paid $85 million to 552 survivors in 2003. The Spotlight investigation is widely considered the catalytic event that transformed clergy abuse from a local scandal into a documented institutional crisis with legal accountability.

Case results

Notable Verdicts & Settlements

4 ON RECORD

$660M

$660,000,000

Settlement2007-07-14

Archdiocese of Los Angeles Settlement — 508 Survivors

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles reached a landmark $660 million settlement in July 2007 covering 508 survivors of clergy sexual abuse, the largest single clergy abuse settlement in history at the time. The average per-claimant amount was approximately $1.3 million. The settlement followed discovery proceedings that revealed Cardinal Roger Mahony and Archdiocese leadership had systematically transferred accused priests and shielded their records from investigators. The settlement fund was established jointly by the Archdiocese and its insurance carriers. Individual claimant amounts ranged from $1,000 to over $5 million based on severity of abuse, duration, and institutional knowledge factors.

Los Angeles County, California

$246M

$246,000,000

Settlement2025-07-01

Diocese of Rochester Bankruptcy Settlement

The Diocese of Rochester, New York reached a $246 million settlement in July 2025 following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2019 in response to New York's Child Victims Act. The settlement covered claims from hundreds of survivors of abuse by Rochester diocesan clergy. The Diocese of Rochester's bankruptcy was among the first filed in response to the Child Victims Act lookback window and helped establish the template for subsequent diocesan bankruptcies across the country. The settlement demonstrated that New York's lookback window legislation succeeded in providing compensation to survivors who had been legally barred from filing for decades.

Monroe County, New York

$150M

$150,000,000

Settlement2023-04-01

Diocese of Buffalo Settlement — 900 Claims

The Diocese of Buffalo settled approximately 900 clergy abuse claims for $150 million following its 2020 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which was directly triggered by claim volume generated by New York's Child Victims Act (2019). The Buffalo settlement is notable for the scale of its survivor community — nearly 900 claimants — and for the Diocese's release of a comprehensive list of credibly accused clergy prior to settlement. Buffalo remains an active litigation market for claims against individual defendants not covered by the diocesan settlement, and survivors may have additional options under New York's March 2026 lookback window.

Erie County, New York

$300M

$300,000,000

Settlement2025-09-01

Archdiocese of New York Compensation Fund

The Archdiocese of New York established a $300 million voluntary compensation fund in September 2025 to resolve approximately 1,300 survivor claims without a bankruptcy filing. The fund was administered by an independent claims administrator and used a structured point-based matrix to assign compensation amounts based on abuse severity, duration, survivor age at time of abuse, and institutional knowledge factors. The Archdiocese of New York's fund represents one of the largest voluntary (non-bankruptcy) settlement funds in clergy abuse history and demonstrates that direct negotiation outside the bankruptcy process can produce significant survivor compensation.

New York County, New York

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