In July 2025, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This was in response to a flood of 153 abuse claims certified under California’s expanded statute of limitations for child sexual assault.
The filing comes after more than a year of anticipation. Bishop Joseph V. Brennan first announced plans to seek bankruptcy protection in May 2024. However, the formal petition wasn’t submitted until July 1, 2025. At Andreozzi + Foote, we have navigated the Catholic Church and its shameful tactics like this all over the country. And, we have prevailed, exposing those responsible and getting millions for our clients.
How the Fresno Bankruptcy Hurts Survivors
1. Delaying Survivors’ Path to Justice
As sexual abuse attorneys we know that the prolonged timeline is a delay tactic. It pauses litigation, discovery, jury trials, and mediation to stall survivors’ legal rights. We’ve seen this tactic used before in Harrisburg Diocese and the Boy Scouts.
2. Financial Maneuvering at Play
Court documents estimate the diocese holds $50–100 million in assets, while liabilities are roughly equal. This means little may remain to satisfy survivor claims. Survivor attorneys argue that filing for bankruptcy consolidates the diocese’s obligations into one court‑managed fund. This limits full public accountability.
3. A Multi-Year Resolution Ahead
Chapter 11 allows the diocese to continue operations while structuring a reorganization plan. However, attorneys predict it could take 2–3 years before survivors receive compensation. The process may never unveil full internal wrongdoing through civil trials.
What Bankruptcy Means for Survivors
All individual abuse lawsuits are stayed (paused) and folded into the federal bankruptcy process. A claims fund will be established under court supervision to distribute compensation to survivors as creditors. Survivors lose the ability to pursue separate jury trials or depositions, limiting transparency and public exposure of alleged misconduct.
Survivor Voices: Justice Didn’t Feel Timely
Many survivors came forward decades after their abuse. They were triggered by California’s Child Victims Act (AB 218), which opened a three-year window to file time-barred claims from 2020–2022.
When the Harrisburg Diocese filed it rocked survivors who were waiting decades for justice. We have seen this show before and didn’t like the ending. These tactics harm survivors. As one of our clients said:
“It just feels like re-victimization all over again,” Lara Fortney-McKeever, 47, said, “There obviously are a lot of skeletons that they don’t want to be seen.”
The Diocese’s Position
Bishop Brennan framed the bankruptcy as a pathway to handle claims “with fair, equitable compassion” while preserving ministry and operations across Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, and Tulare counties.
He described the filing as the only option to address the volume of cases without dissolving the Diocese’s broader services.
Why It Matters Nationally
The Fresno filing follows a similar pattern in Northern California. It joins dioceses in Sacramento, Oakland, and San Francisco in using Chapter 11 to manage abuse liabilities.
This trend raises concerns that survivors are losing opportunities for public accountability and personal closure, as institutions opt for collective legal proceedings instead.
How Andreozzi + Foote Stands With Survivors
At Andreozzi + Foote, we have supported survivors navigating similar institutional bankruptcies and civil litigation. Whether fighting for transparency in limited proceedings, or helping clients pursue maximum compensation when institutions attempt to hide assets, we bring experience and tenacity to every case.
We’ve successfully represented survivors in diocesan bankruptcies, including in Pennsylvania during the Diocese of Harrisburg’s Chapter 11 proceedings. We fought to ensure survivors’ voices were not silenced by legal maneuvering. Our firm understands the complex legal terrain of bankruptcy court. We know how to file timely claims, challenge asset shielding, and work within court-ordered compensation structures to secure justice for survivors. We don’t just follow the process, we challenge it when it fails to center survivors’ needs.
If you were harmed in a Catholic institution or another trusted organization know this:
- You still have rights, even if a bankruptcy petition is filed.
- Survivors may qualify as creditors with rights in federal court.
- Your story has power and deserves to be heard.
What Survivors Should Know Now
Don’t delay: Pre-bankruptcy claims framed under AB 218 or similar statutes may still be valid. Know that the bankruptcy process could last 2–3 years or more, delaying resolution. Bankruptcy may limit your ability to pursue full discovery or a public trial.
You still deserve justice, validation, and legal support, no matter the institution.
Firms like ours can provide trauma-informed litigation support even through Chapter 11.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you or someone you love filed a claim or is considering one against the Diocese of Fresno or any organization filing for bankruptcy due to abuse, reach out. Andreozzi + Foote is here to help survivors navigate the federal process, preserve legal rights, and fight for truth, healing, and accountability.
“You cannot put a price tag on validation. And you cannot put a price tag on reclaiming power,” Ben Andreozzi said. “And the way that you do that is by confronting the individuals who are responsible for your abuse.”
Call us today for a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL case consultation. 1-866-753-5458