4 California Catholic dioceses — San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, and Santa Rosa — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection between 2022 and 2024 in direct response to the volume of AB 218 sexual abuse claims, making California the epicenter of diocesan bankruptcy litigation in the United States.
Over 500 civil lawsuits were filed against California Catholic institutions during the AB 218 lookback window, according to court filings and diocesan bankruptcy documents — representing decades of previously suppressed claims from survivors who had been told, for years, that they had waited too long. AB 218 said otherwise. If you are among them, Compass Law Group’s practice areas include specialized clergy sexual abuse representation to navigate every stage of this process alongside you.
Source: Compass Law Group | Clergy Sexual Abuse and AB 218
How Can Compass Law Group Help California Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors?
Compass Law Group, LLP represents survivors of clergy sexual abuse, California CYO sexual abuse, and church sexual abuse throughout the entire state — from our offices in Beverly Hills to San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, and beyond. Our managing partners, Joseph Shirazi (California Bar #265403) and Simon Esfandi (California Bar #275307), lead a team that has recovered more than $250 million for abuse survivors, and every case we take is handled on a strict no win, no fee basis. You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Navigating a diocesan bankruptcy as a sexual abuse survivor requires more than a general personal injury attorney. It requires specific experience with California’s AB 218 statute, the AB 2777 revival window, the federal bankruptcy creditor claims process, institutional insurance coverage disputes, and the mediation procedures that govern diocesan Chapter 11 proceedings. Our california church sexual abuse lawyers bring all of that experience to every client, while never losing sight of the human reality behind the legal claim — and the courage it takes to come forward against a powerful institution that has already demonstrated it will use every legal tool available to minimize your recovery.
Every consultation with Compass Law Group is free, confidential, and without any obligation. You may remain anonymous when you first reach out. We serve survivors of clergy sexual abuse across every California region, and we have the specific bankruptcy litigation experience to protect your claim from the moment a diocese files to the moment a settlement is reached. Call us today at (213) 320-1001 — a member of our team can begin evaluating your specific claim and deadlines the same day you contact us.
Q: What happens to my AB 218 sexual abuse lawsuit if the church I sued files for bankruptcy in California?
When a church or diocese files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, an automatic stay temporarily halts all pending civil lawsuits, including AB 218 claims. Your lawsuit does not disappear — it is converted into a creditor claim within the bankruptcy estate. You must file a Proof of Claim with the bankruptcy court before the court-set “bar date” to preserve your right to compensation. Missing this deadline can permanently bar recovery, which is why retaining an experienced California clergy sexual abuse lawyer the moment a bankruptcy filing becomes public is critical.
Q: Can I still pursue a clergy sexual abuse claim under AB 218 if the diocese has already declared bankruptcy?
Yes. AB 218 (CCP §340.1) permanently eliminated the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse in California — your underlying right to seek compensation is not affected by the institution’s bankruptcy. What changes is the legal forum: your civil claim becomes a creditor claim within the bankruptcy estate. California’s institutional liability provisions — respondeat superior, negligent supervision, and negligent retention — survive the bankruptcy filing and are asserted through the court-supervised creditor claims and settlement process.
Q: How long do I have to file a sexual abuse claim against a California church or diocese?
If you were under 18 when the abuse occurred, AB 218 (CCP §340.1) gives you unlimited time — there is no deadline whatsoever for childhood sexual abuse civil claims in California. If you were an adult (18 or older) at the time of the abuse, the AB 2777 revival window under CCP §340.16 closes on December 31, 2026 — after which previously time-barred adult survivor claims will be permanently closed. Claims involving government entities also require a Government Claims Act notice filed within 6 months of discovery, regardless of AB 218 or AB 2777 protections.
Q: What is the difference between AB 218 and AB 2777 for California church sexual abuse survivors?
AB 218 (CCP §340.1) applies to survivors who were children — under 18 years old — when the sexual abuse occurred. It permanently eliminated all statutes of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, meaning California survivors can bring a civil claim at any age with no deadline. AB 2777 (CCP §340.16) applies to adult survivors — those who were 18 or older when the abuse occurred — and created a revival window for previously time-barred claims that closes on December 31, 2026. A free consultation with Compass Law Group can identify which statute governs your specific situation.
Q: Who pays for clergy sexual abuse settlements when a California diocese files for bankruptcy?
Compensation for survivor claims in a diocesan Chapter 11 bankruptcy comes from the bankruptcy estate — a combination of the institution’s own assets, including real property and investments, and critically, its institutional insurance policies. Church insurers are typically the largest single funding source for diocesan abuse settlements. The bankruptcy court supervises negotiation of a global settlement pool and the distribution formula. An experienced California church sexual abuse lawyer can identify all available insurance coverage layers and advocate for the full valuation of your individual claim within that pool.
References
- California Code of Civil Procedure §340.1 (AB 218) — Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations
- RAINN — Sexual Violence Statistics
- California Code of Civil Procedure §340.16 (AB 2777) — Adult Survivor Sexual Abuse Revival Window
California Sexual Abuse Lawsuit — Key Statistics
Steps to Take After Filing a Claim Against a Church or Religious Institution
When an institution that faces your civil claim files for bankruptcy, the process changes significantly — but your rights do not. The following steps are specific to survivors navigating a church or diocese bankruptcy proceeding in California. A Sacramento sexual abuse lawyer or any Compass Law Group attorney can guide you through each of these steps and protect your claim at every stage.
- Retain experienced legal counsel immediately. The single most time-sensitive action a survivor can take when a church or diocese files for bankruptcy is to contact an experienced California clergy sexual abuse attorney without delay. Bankruptcy courts impose a hard “bar date” for filing a Proof of Claim — missing it can permanently eliminate your right to recover from the estate, even if your AB 218 or AB 2777 claim would otherwise be fully valid.
- Preserve all documentation and evidence. Secure any correspondence with clergy, church officials, or diocesan representatives; photographs; medical and therapy records; journal entries; and any documents related to the abuse or the institution’s response to it. Do not delete digital communications or social media records, even if they appear peripheral — everything can be relevant during the bankruptcy claims valuation process.
- Identify and record witness information. Write down the names, contact details, and recollections of anyone who witnessed the abuse, was present during relevant events, or to whom you disclosed the abuse at or near the time it occurred. Corroborating witness statements can significantly strengthen your creditor claim and affect how it is valued against other claims in the settlement pool.
- File your Proof of Claim before the bar date. Your attorney will prepare and file this critical court document on your behalf, formally converting your civil sexual abuse claim into a creditor claim within the bankruptcy estate. The bar date is set by the bankruptcy judge, strictly enforced, and no exceptions are routinely granted for late filings — this deadline is non-negotiable.
- Participate in the court-supervised mediation process. Chapter 11 diocesan bankruptcies typically proceed through a court-supervised mediation in which survivor representatives, institutional insurance carriers, and the diocese’s attorneys negotiate a total settlement pool and distribution formula. Your attorney will advocate throughout this process for the full and fair valuation of your claim and advise you on whether proposed settlement terms genuinely reflect the harm you suffered.
- Monitor government entity deadlines separately. If any portion of your claim involves a government-affiliated entity — a publicly funded Catholic school, a government-operated religious program, or a public institution that failed to report known abuse — the Government Claims Act’s 6-month notice deadline applies independently of the bankruptcy creditor process. Failing to file a timely government claims notice will bar recovery from that entity entirely, regardless of what AB 218 or AB 2777 protect against the private institution.
Survivors throughout California — from Bell Gardens to every city where Compass Law Group maintains an office — can reach our team for a free, completely confidential consultation. You may remain anonymous when you first contact us, and you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Source: Compass Law Group | Clergy Sexual Abuse and AB 218
