Federal judge vows to hire adviser after attorneys’ efforts have not yet led to compensation for clergy abuse victims
In a move opposed by high-priced attorneys on both sides of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans’ expensive and lengthy effort to reorganize through a bankruptcy, a federal judge vowed Tuesday to hire an outside expert to assess whether the church and those it owes – including clergy abuse survivors – can come up with a viable settlement plan.
“People are tired. They are frustrated,” bankruptcy judge Meredith Grabill said from the bench, after hearing attorneys for the archdiocese and a committee of creditors urge her to give them a few more weeks to come up with two competing proposed reorganization plans.
