Diocese’s Largest Insurer, U.S. Fire, Continues Evasive Legal Maneuvers to Deny Justice & Compensation to Sexual Abuse Victims
“Today’s verdict is a culmination of resilience, determination and above all – an unwavering hunger for truth and justice. Today is not only a victory for Doe 254, but for all Diocese of Winona survivors.” – Jeff Anderson
(Winona, MN) – Today, a jury has issued a verdict on a civil lawsuit in which a male survivor (Doe 254) accuses Fr. Joseph Cashman of sexually abusing him as a child from 1973 to 1976. After deliberation, the jury awarded Doe 254 with $7.6 million.
“This is a case about accountability, it’s about justice. It’s about Doe 254 finding his voice and regaining his power. We stand with him on this momentous day.” – Josh Peck, attorney
Fr. Cashman was a priest employed by the Diocese of Winona, Lourdes High School, and Rochester Catholic Schools and is now on the Diocese of Winona’s list of clergy with credible accusations of child sexual abuse.
For nearly a decade, U.S. Fire, the largest insurer involved in the Diocese of Winona cases, has avoided any significant accountability or liability in the cases.
The Diocese of Winona filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018 after many Winona survivors filed claims under the Minnesota Child Victims Act. In 2021, a reorganization plan incorporated Child Protection Protocols the Diocese must adhere to and nearly $28 million in settlements between survivors and the Diocese of Winona, parishes and schools, and two insurers, LMI and Interstate – this settlement did not include U.S. Fire. This is unprecedented, as Catholic bankruptcy settlements typically include a release for all major insurers.
“U.S. Fire Insurance has been using the same, cowardly tactic for nearly a decade – hiding behind legal technicalities to avoid its responsibility under its insurance contracts to resolve the survivors’ claims.” – Jeff Anderson, attorney