Statement of Attorneys Jeff Anderson and Steve Boyd September 12, 2019
Survivors’ Attorneys’ Statement Regarding Filing Of Bankruptcy by Diocese Of Rochester
(Rochester, NY) – The Diocese of Rochester filed bankruptcy this morning after being named as a defendant in dozens of clergy sexual abuse lawsuits filed since New York’s Child Victims Act’s one-year window opened on August 14.
“The bishop’s choice to use reorganization as a legal tactic is very disturbing and disappointing,” said attorney Jeff Anderson of Jeff Anderson & Associates, who represents several survivors who have lawsuits against the Diocese of Rochester, along with attorney Steve Boyd. “Bishop Salvatore Matano’s choice is simply a legal tactic to protect assets and prevent jury trials, and an attempt to prevent the truth from being revealed.”
“We want to assure the survivors and their family members who have been harmed for so long and have brought claims under the Child Victims Act that this is not the end,” Boyd said. “This will not stop us or the survivors and we know there are battles to be fought.”
Anderson and Boyd, who represent hundreds of sexual abuse survivors in New York, will conduct a press conference at 3:00 p.m. (ET) today in Rochester. Additional details on the press conference are forthcoming soon.