Diocese of Albany Abuse Claims

The Capital Region: settlement agreed, bankruptcy case still running.

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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany filed for Chapter 11 in 2023 and agreed a $148 million settlement in March 2026 covering roughly 440 survivors, with the bankruptcy case ongoing.

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

Agreed, but the case continues

Albany filed for Chapter 11 in 2023. In March 2026 a settlement of $148 million
covering roughly 440 survivors was agreed. The bankruptcy case itself is ongoing.

That is a third distinct position: not a confirmed and closed plan like Rockville Centre, not
an emerged diocese like Syracuse, and not an unconfirmed proposal like Buffalo. The differences
are not academic. They change deadlines, process and who decides what.

The most recent of the New York resolutions

Albany’s is the most recent of the New York diocesan resolutions, which means the process is
still comparatively fresh and the practical questions (what the timetable is, what is still
open) have current answers rather than historic ones.

See also sexual abuse claims in Albany.

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.

The settlement is agreed but the case is ongoing. What does that mean?

An agreement in principle on the amount is not the same as a completed reorganisation. Process, deadlines and distribution are still working through the court.

Does the $148 million figure tell me what a claim is worth?

No. It is a total across roughly 440 survivors, and individual outcomes vary according to the facts. It is context, not a calculation.

My abuse was at a Catholic school rather than a parish.

Schools are frequently separate entities from the diocese, which can affect who the defendant is and whether a claim sits inside or outside the bankruptcy.

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