Albany, NY (WRGB) — Just days before a sexual abuse lawsuit was due to head to jury trial, The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany settled the case for $8 million.
Law firm Pfau Cochran Vertitas Amala PLLC (PVCA) called it a “landmark” settlement on behalf of Michael Harmon. It’s the first such settlement among seven lawsuits that saw the Diocese’s bankruptcy stay lifted to allow for individual cases to go to trial. Attorneys say it’s a step toward resolving more than 400 cases against the Diocese, all stayed and pending in federal bankruptcy court.
The trial over Harmon’s case was set to begin Monday in New York State Supreme Court in Albany. It was filed in March 2020 as part of the state’s Child Victims Act window for filing abuse lawsuits that would have otherwise been past the statue of limitations…