2 Accused Predator Priests May Be Deposed Despite New Orleans Church’s Bankruptcy Case, article by David Hammer and Ramon Antonio Vargas, nola.com.
The federal bankruptcy judge in the Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy case has ruled that two priests accused of molesting minors decades ago, Paul Calamari and Lawrence Hecker, can be deposed regarding that abuse. The Archdiocese of New Orleans has long held that because the church’s interests were “intertwined” with those of the accused priests, the priests could not be deposed in abuse lawsuits. Now that the judge has ended a stay that was blocking victims of child abuse from taking sworn testimony from their alleged clergy abusers, these accused abuser priests must testify. Since there are eight surviving priests that have been named by the Archdiocese of New Orleans as suspected child molesters, this may open up testimony in other cases involving other accused priests.
Survivors who are now adults who suffered abuse as children by clergy or other employees of the New Orleans Archdiocese at any time in the past can still file a claim. The deadline for claims to the Archdiocese of New Orleans Bankruptcy is March 1, 2021. If you have a question about your situation, please don’t hesitate to call Lamothe Law Firm to get more information. Here at Lamothe Law Firm, we understand how difficult it can be to come forward, which is why we are here to provide support every step of the way. Our intake team are often the first people survivors confide in about their experience, and we are proud to provide a safe environment in which to do so.
