Archdiocese of New York Abuse Claims

Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island and Westchester, no bankruptcy filing.

  • Free
  • Confidential
  • No police report required
  • No conviction required

The Archdiocese of New York did not file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, so claims against it proceed as ordinary civil actions rather than through a court-supervised claims process.

Thomas P. Giuffra, sexual abuse lawyer, at his New York office.
Thomas P. Giuffra · Partner, Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP
New York bar registration 2646065 · admitted 1995

Coverage and status

The Archdiocese of New York covers Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester and the
lower Hudson Valley. Together with Brooklyn it is one of only two New York dioceses that did not
file for bankruptcy after the Child Victims Act.

Why that matters to a claim

  • No bankruptcy claims process, no bar date, no pooled fund.
  • Ordinary civil discovery is available, documents and depositions directed at the
    archdiocese.
  • Parishes, schools and religious orders may be defendants in their own right.

A note on settlement figures

In May 2026, the Archdiocese announced a proposed global settlement of approximately $800 million covering roughly 1,300 claims, reportedly structured as about $615 million paid in an initial installment with the remaining $185 million distributed within about 15 months. That figure has been widely and consistently reported. What it is not, yet, is final: it requires acceptance from claimants, and the attorneys negotiating it have said that if it does not go through, a Chapter 11 filing by the Archdiocese remains possible. As of now, the Archdiocese has not filed for bankruptcy.

Settlement status is exactly the kind of detail that can change quickly. Ask and we will tell you where things currently stand.

Time limits in New York depend on how old you were, who was responsible and the particular facts. There is no single deadline that applies to everyone. Ask rather than assume. It is a free call.

Which areas does the Archdiocese actually cover?

Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester and the lower Hudson Valley. Brooklyn and Queens fall under the separate Diocese of Brooklyn, and Nassau and Suffolk under Rockville Centre.

What is the settlement figure I’ve been reading about?

In May 2026 the Archdiocese proposed an approximately $800 million global settlement covering roughly 1,300 claims. That figure has been widely and consistently reported, but the settlement is not yet finalized, it depends on claimants accepting it, and if it falls through the Archdiocese could still end up filing for Chapter 11. We can tell you where things currently stand when you call.

Can I sue the parish rather than the Archdiocese?

Often both are relevant. Parishes and affiliated schools can be separate defendants, and identifying which entity employed and supervised the individual is an early step.

What actually happens if you contact us

Nothing is set in motion by asking a question.

  1. You speak to a person

    Not a form, not an intake script. You do not have to describe what happened in order to have the conversation.

  2. We look into who had a duty

    Which institution was responsible, what it knew, what records exist, and whether a claim can still be brought. That work costs you nothing.

  3. You decide

    We tell you plainly what is possible. If you decide not to go ahead, that is the end of it and what you told us stays confidential.

  4. If you go ahead, we carry it

    Filings, deadlines, records and the institution's insurers. Steps can be taken to protect your identity in the court record.

Call (646) 413-6394 Free case review