Court rules church can't shield $60 million in abuse cases

[alp227]

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

In a major blow to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in its ongoing bankruptcy, a federal appeals court on Monday put a $60 million cemetery trust fund back in play to settle claims related to sexual abuse by priests.

The ruling from the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also said the judge who put the money off limits, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa, should have disclosed the fact his own parents and other relatives are buried in a cemetery maintained by the fund. The court remanded the case to a different District Court judge.

The decision reinstated the lawsuit filed by the bankruptcy creditors committee to recover what was originally a $57 million transfer of money by then-Archbishop Timothy Dolan from the Archdiocese to a trust for the perpetual care of the church's cemeteries in 2007. The lawsuit claimed that the transfer of money was a fraudulent attempt to shield it in anticipation of a bankruptcy filing.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee filed a Chapter 11 case in January 2011.

Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/religion/court-rules-church-cant-shield-55-million-in-abuse-cases-b99458964z1-295673371.html

[elfin]

1. This is good news. Dolan did his worst for the victims before leaving Milwaukee....

to run for Pope from his promotion to NewbYork. Glad the vote for Francis blocked him.

Wisconsin Judiciary is severely compromised by Weasel Walker, so this may not hold.

However, I am cheered by the rare outbreak of sanity in our once wonderful state.

[ColesCountyDem]

2. This is in the federal court system, so Walker's influence won't matter. n/t

[elfin]

11. Belated recognition that you are correct!

Did not double check the judiciary layers before posting.

However, the Weasel does have a way of corrupting all institutions possibly standing between him (and Koch.)

Somehow, someway, the ultimate judgement will be before a winger judge installed by a Repug.

Yes, I am a dispirited Progressive in the now owned by Kochs Wisconsin.

[HereSince1628]

3. He absolutely did. He has the skill of a Borgia.

The money hiding ought to be criminal.

[Still In Wisconsin]

4. Rudolph the Red Nosed Randa again

"The ruling from the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also said the judge who put the money off limits, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa, should have disclosed the fact his own parents and other relatives are buried in a cemetery maintained by the fund. The court remanded the case to a different District Court judge."

Conflict of interest much Your Honor?

[Scuba]

9. "Again" being the key word in your subject. Randa is a hack of the worst sort.

[rhett o rick]

5. Maybe the church will have to melt down it's golden calf. nm

[mopinko]

6. how many dead people are there in milwaukee?

$60m for upkeep of how many cemeteries? how much was in the fund before that money was moved?
jeebus.
should be slapped for fraud.

[niyad]

7. good. the church should not be able to hide any of its assets to avoid paying for

what its priests have done/are doing.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. Fukkin A, there is justice in the effing world.

Finally, reality seeps into Wisconsin.

The 7th circuit is becoming almost human. Wow.

[Scuba]

10. Good. The Milwaukee Diocese should be shamed, financially broken and their leaders jailed ...

... for their decades-long scheming to cover up these crimes.