California Independent Compensation Program Launches

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Dioceses of Fresno, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino and San Diego have established and now launched an “Independent Compensation Program (ICP)” to provide monetary compensation to survivors of childhood sexual abuse perpetrated by priests of those institutions. The ICP is a voluntary program that will be administered by Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Biros who have extensive experience organizing and running similar programs for Dioceses throughout the United States.

The ICP was officially launched on September 16, 2019 and provides for the following:

• Those survivors of childhood sexual abuse – perpetrated by the covered priests — who previously reported the abuse to the Office of Child and Youth Protection (“OCYP”) should receive claim forms in the mail
• Those survivors who have NOT previously reported the abuse to OCYP will have to register with the ICP
• The registration period is open from September 16, 2019 until January 31, 2020
• The deadline for filing a claim is March 31, 2020
• The ICP is open to eligible survivors without regard to whether their claims are considered expired under California’s applicable statute of limitations
• Except as may be required by law and agreement with law enforcement, information submitted to the ICP is confidential