The Roman Catholic diocese of Vermont says it could be put out of business, and constitutional protections of religious freedom could be violated by a priest-abuse lawsuit.
The Burlington Free Press cites papers filed by the diocese in U.S. District Court in Burlington. They say paying more big damage awards to victims of long-ago priest sexual abuse could bring those results.
The diocese asks Judge William Sessions III to throw out a lawsuit filed in 2010 by a man alleging that as an altar boy he was molested in Rutland by a priest in 1974.
The Vermont diocese reached what it thought was a final resolution of its priest sexual abuse cases in May 2010 when it agreed to a $17.6 million settlement covering 26 pending cases.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
One out of 10 Cars Sold in Europe Is Now Made by a Chinese Brand 
Uber Jury Awards $8.5 Million Damages in Sexual Assault Case 
Why 2026 Is The Tipping Point for The Evolving Role of AI in Law and Claims 
Navigators Can’t Parse ‘Additional Insured’ Policy Wording in Georgia Explosion Case 
Want to stay up to date?
Get the latest insurance news
sent straight to your inbox.