“It is the courage, persistence, and strength of the survivors that have brought us to this moment. Survivors will not be silenced.” – Jeff Anderson
(New York, NY) – Today, the Plaintiffs’ Liaison Committee and 1,298 survivors who brought claims under the New York Child Victims Act completed a settlement with the Archdiocese of New York. The settlement is a historic step toward accountability following years of litigation and negotiations with the Archdiocese.
“This is a real reckoning – each survivor required the Archdiocese to take responsibility like never before.” – Jeff Anderson
Allocations Process
Under the completed settlement, survivors have the option to receive an expedited settlement payment or proceed through an individualized allocation process that evaluates and scores their claims based on the abuse and harm they endured.
Of the 1,298 claimants, approximately one-third have elected the $250,000 quick-pay option, allowing them to receive compensation without undergoing the allocation process. An experienced, neutral judge-allocator will evaluate the remaining claims to distribute proceeds based on the nature of the abuse and the harm done.
Settlement Payments and Allocation
The Archdiocese of New York and other participating entities will compensate survivors through two payments that will total approximately $800 million:
- Initial Payment – $638.75 Million: The initial payment will be placed into a trust established to compensate survivors. This amount represents a $23.75 million increase from the $615 million initial payment proposed in May 2026.
- Second Payment – A second payment will be made approximately 15 months after settlement closing to reach the total settlement of approximately $800 million.
“This settlement represents accountability, an acknowledgment of the wrongs committed, and a meaningful step toward a measure of justice.” – Jeff Anderson
Accountability and Public Disclosure
Beyond monetary compensation, the completed deal includes important measures intended to promote transparency and protect children from future abuse:
- The Archdiocese to publish the identities of every credibly accused offender, and to be updated and monitored in the future.
- Disclosure of the priest offender files that have been kept secret and under seal, to be disclosed publicly in a database at the conclusion of the litigation.
Ongoing Litigation Against Chubb Insurance Group
In addition to the settlement payments and child protection measures, survivors and the Plaintiffs’ Liaison Committee will have a beneficial interest in ongoing insurance litigation involving Chubb Insurance Group, also known through its affiliated insurer Century Indemnity Company, a major insurer of the Archdiocese of New York and its affiliated entities for decades.
Chubb has declined to participate in settlement negotiations throughout the litigation. As a result, the Archdiocese of New York initiated legal action against the insurer to pursue insurance coverage related to sexual abuse claims. The litigation is pending in the New York County Supreme Court.
“This historic deal sets a powerful precedent nationwide, forging a new path to challenge insurance companies that have used denials, delays, and resistance to obstruct justice. It sends a clear message to insurers across the country: survivors will not be silenced, accountability cannot be avoided, and justice cannot be delayed indefinitely.” – Jeff Anderson