Settlement Reached in San Diego Diocese Chapter 11 Case

James I. Stang, Robert Orgel, Hamid Rafatjoo and Gillian N. Brown represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 case of The Roman Catholic Bishop of San Diego. Through intensive litigation during the six months of the bankruptcy, the Committee thwarted the Diocese’s strategy to force survivors of clergy sexual abuse to accept below average settlements. On September 7, 2007, the Diocese announced a settlement for 144 survivors and its intention to dismiss its chapter 11 case. The settlement represents the highest average per survivor settlement for any group settlement of claims against a Catholic diocese in the United States. Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones has represented more committees in Catholic diocese chapter 11 cases than any other firm in the country; representations include committees in the chapter 11 cases of the Diocese of Spokane and the Diocese of Davenport.