Judge Backs Insurer in Milwaukee Archdiocese Sex Abuse Case

A federal judge has ruled in favor of an insurance company for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee that challenged whether it was liable for the church’s handling of child sexual abuse cases.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa says U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Susan Kelley erred earlier this year when she refused to let OneBeacon Insurance Co. pursue the liability question with the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He sent the case back to bankruptcy court for further action.

But the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the ruling may be moot. Church spokesman Jerry Topczewski says OneBeacon has negotiated a tentative settlement with the archdiocese.

Lower courts ruled before the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in 2011 that the insurance company was not liable for sex abuse claims because they involved intentional acts rather than accidents.

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