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Independent Compensation Program (“ICP”)

for The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Diocese of Fresno, Diocese of Orange, Diocese of Sacramento, Diocese of San Bernardino, and Diocese of San Diego

For Victim-Survivors of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests
On May 14, 2019, six California Dioceses including the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and the Dioceses of Fresno, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino and San Diego (the “Dioceses”) announced the formation of a new Compensation Program to provide compensation to victims of clergy sexual abuse of minors. The Dioceses have retained Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille Biros, to serve as Administrators of the ICP and to begin work effective September 16, 2019. Read Press Release
The key features of the Program are as follows:
  • The Program is purely voluntary; no individual is required to participate in the Program. Only if the individual is satisfied with the compensation offered does the individual agree to waive rights to litigate against the Dioceses.
  • Individuals who previously submitted a complaint of sexual abuse of minors to the Dioceses will have an opportunity to seek compensation from this Program.
  • Individuals who have not previously filed a complaint with the Dioceses may register to participate in the Program through this website on or before January 31, 2020. To register, potentially eligible Claimants need to provide their name, contact information, and a summary description of the nature of the claim, including the dates and location of the abuse and name of the perpetrator. New complaints of abuse received through this Program must be reported by the Dioceses and by the Claimant to an appropriate law enforcement agency.
  • Mr. Feinberg and Ms. Biros retain complete and sole discretion over eligibility and all compensation offers to eligible victims who participate in the Program. By agreement, the Dioceses cannot reject the Administrators’ final determinations as to eligibility and amount of compensation.
  • An Independent Oversight Committee will oversee the implementation and administration of the ICP. The Members of the Oversight Committee for the ICP are as follows:
    • Former Governor Gray Davis
    • Former Administrator of the Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet
    • Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
  • Individuals who previously settled their sexual abuse claims with the Dioceses will not be permitted to participate in the Program.
  • Individuals who allege sexual abuse as a minor by a member of a religious order, clergy of another diocese or lay persons are not eligible to participate in the Program.
  • Eligible claims will be paid within approximately two weeks from the time that a submitted claim is deemed eligible, compensation is determined and a Release is received by the Administrators.
  • The effective date of the Program is September 16, 2019. All claims submitted to the Administrators must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2020.

To Register:

Individuals who wish to participate in the ICP may immediately register with the Administrators on this Program website by providing their names, contact information and a summary description of the nature of the allegation, the name of the Diocese, the dates, time, location of the alleged abuse and name of the alleged perpetrator. Such information will be maintained in strict confidence in conjunction with this Program except that it will be forwarded to an appropriate law enforcement agency by the registrant and the Diocese for initial review of the allegations. The registrant should include the following language in their written notification to the law enforcement agency as follows: “By sending this notification to law enforcement I agree that the law enforcement agency can inform the Diocese of the allegations reported. In addition the Diocese will have the matter investigated.
Click here to register to receive Program information when it becomes available.