An insurance company has agreed to pay nearly $9 million to victims of child sexual abuse as part of the first settlement reached in the Diocese of Duluth’s (Minn.) bankruptcy case, the Duluth News Review reported. Nebraska-based Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America is one of five insurers that were sued by the diocese, which filed for bankruptcy nearly two years ago and sought to force coverage of 125 abuse claims. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Kressel is expected to approve the $8.95 million agreement at a Jan. 4 hearing, barring any unexpected objections. The diocese filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2015, weeks after being hit with a $4.9 million verdict in the first case to go to trial under the Minnesota Child Victims Act, which opened a window for victims of decades-old cases to file suit.
