Posts by Bryan Smith
Catholic Diocese Intends to File for Bankruptcy
Another Catholic diocese is attempting to shield its assets from lawsuits stemming from sexual abuse perpetrated by its priests by filing for bankruptcy. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe New Mexico has been defending lawsuits over the last several years but in a recent press conference indicated that it intends to file for bankruptcy. Historically, bankruptcy has…
Read MoreChildren are Safer in a System that Holds the Church Accountable for Covering Up Child Sex Abuse
Pennsylvania Priests Sexually Abused Children for Decades A Pennsylvania Grand Jury has concluded that the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania has been covering up child sex abuse for decades. Read the news report. According to the grand jury report, which examined 6 of the state’s 8 dioceses, over 300 perpetrators sexually abused over 300 victims, over a…
Read MoreChurch Should Disclose Names of Pedophile Priests
On April 26, 2016, the Yakima Diocese announced that it will not follow the Seattle Archdiocese’s lead and publish the names of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children. The Diocese’s claimed reasoning for continuing its decades-long policy of silence and secrets is that most of the priest’s names “already had been made…
Read MoreDon’t Let Bills Catch You By Surprise After Surgery
I have represented hundreds of clients who underwent surgery as a result of injuries. Most of these clients had no idea how expensive their surgery would be, and were often shocked when all of the bills arrived. I use the word “bills” (plural) because numerous providers in the operating suite (not just the surgeon) separately…
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