We are here to serve you with dignity, compassion, and respect. The Settlement Trust exists to support survivors throughout the claims process and ensure meaningful reforms protect future generations.
Find answers to common questions about the settlement process.
A supplemental statement is an additional statement that you can submit on whatever details you (or your attorney if you have one) think are important as to the abuse you suffered and its impact on you. The statement may be done in writing or via a video.
No, the Supplemental Submission is completely optional. If an Abuse Claimant declines to submit a written or video Supplemental Submission, such declination shall not be held against the Abuse Claimant or be used as grounds to discount the Abuse Claim.
Yes, 10 pages, singled sided, double-spaced with 12-point font. If you do not have a lawyer or access to a computer, you may submit a handwritten submission. The page limit on a handwritten submission is 10 single-sided pages.
The video must be no longer than 10 minutes in length. The video must include only the Abuse Claimant and no one else. You may use a 10-minute excerpt of a video deposition if you have a video deposition that you want to use.
You may choose either method with which you feel most comfortable. Neither method is preferred over the other.
No, you may only submit a written Supplemental Submission or a video Supplemental Submission.
The submissions must be received by Donlin Recano no later than February 6, 2026.
Yes, but be advised that once you submit such a statement, you cannot revise or supplement it.
A Late Claim is an Abuse Claim against the Archdiocese filed after May 16, 2025.
If you filed a Claim against the Additional Debtors by December 2, 2025, your Claim will be considered as to those Additional Debtors, but not the Archdiocese of New Orleans unless you submit a Good Cause Statement explaining why you did not file a Claim against the Archdiocese.
The Abuse Claims Reviewer will review the statement and has discretion to allow the claim subject to a 90% penalty against any Claim brought against the Archdiocese. For example, if the Abuse Claims Reviewer assesses a Late Claim at 100 points, the assessment must be reduced to no more than 10 points. This reduction is only as to Late Claims submitted against the Archdiocese of New Orleans and not the Additional Debtors.
Only if you want to attempt to make a partial recovery against the Archdiocese. If you filed a Late Claim as to the Archdiocese, but were timely as to the Additional Debtors, the failure to submit a Good Cause Statement for a Late Filed Claim will not affect any recovery against the Additional Debtors.
You may submit a written statement via a secured portal with Donlin Recano using the information provided on the Notice Letter, via US Mail or hand delivery to Donlin Recano. Video submissions for Late Claims are not allowed. Please note that email submissions are not accepted due to security reasons. Also, submissions on USB drives or other portable media will not be accepted due to security reasons.
Yes, 10 pages, singled sided, double-spaced with 12-point font.
The submissions must be received by Donlin Recano no later than February 6, 2026.
Yes, but be advised that once you submit such a statement, you cannot revise or supplement it.
Your claim is being graded by the Court-appointed Claims Reviewer who is a neutral attorney.
Your claim is graded by the factors set forth in the Allocation Protocol approved by the Bankruptcy Court. The factors include the type of abuse you suffered, how often you were abused and the impact of the abuse. The court-approved Allocation Protocol sets forth maximum points based on things like the type of abuse. How many points to award within the given ranges is the decision of the Abuse Claims Reviewer.
The Claims Reviewer assigns a grade to each claim using the factors set forth in the Allocation Protocol approved by the Bankruptcy Court. Once finished, the Claims Reviewer will send the determination to the Settlement Trustee who will arrive at a preliminary monetary distribution for your settlement and the Settlement Trustee will inform you of that amount.
That is at the discretion of the Abuse Claims Reviewer. If additional information is required, you (or your attorney if you have one) will be informed and you will be given time to comply.
Yes, provided you submitted a proof of claim prior to the deadlines (May 16, 2025 against the Archdiocese; December 2, 2025 against the Additional Debtors). Legal authority for you to submit a claim will be required, if not already included with the proof of claim submitted.
The Abuse Claims Reviewer’s goal is to assign points to these claims as fairly and efficiently as possible. We cannot provide an estimate on how long the process will take, but the Claims Reviewer’s work to diligently complete this process is already underway.
This process is controlled by the Allocation Protocol approved by the Bankruptcy Court. That protocol is available at [direct link to Allocation Protocol provided by Donlin Recano].
Yes, the Allocation Protocol allows you to make what is called a Request for Reconsideration. The Request for Reconsideration must be made within 30 days of the mailing of your preliminary monetary distribution. There is also a $1,000 fee for such a request; however, if you are unable to pay that fee, you can submit a statement signed under the penalty of perjury to the Settlement Trustee. The decision to waive the Reconsideration fee belongs to the Settlement Trustee.
The Abuse Claims Reviewer.
No, the Abuse Claims Decisions on Requests for Reconsideration are final.
We are here to help. Whether you have questions about your claim, need support resources, or want to report non-compliance, please don't hesitate to reach out.