Rob Kugler Discusses Harrisburg Diocese Bankruptcy with Penn. Public Broadcasting

05.26.2021

Partner Rob Kugler was recently quoted by PennLive/WITF Broadcasting on a bill pending in Pennsylvania that would allow for a retroactive window for victims of child sex abuse by Catholic priests to sue the Diocese of Harrisburg.

Rob represents the 59 victims in the Diocese of Harrisburg's bankruptcy case, and commented that, “Certainly if the legislation gets passed, it will have an impact on the case and where the case goes. It’s difficult to say whether that makes the case harder or easier but certainly it changes the focus and will force it to take on a new light.”

The article went on to discuss the number of lawsuits that could potentially be filed, though several attorneys noted that the number of those participating in the bankruptcy case could be indicative of the number of potentially outstanding cases.

Rob is a leader in the representation of survivors of sexual abuse in enforcing their claims in bankruptcy. Rob secured the largest ever recovery in a Catholic diocese bankruptcy in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis case ($210 million). Additionally, Rob has represented survivor committees in the bankruptcy cases of the Crosier Order, the Diocese of Duluth, the Diocese of New Ulm, and currently represents survivor committees in the Diocese of Winona/Rochester, the Archdiocese of Agaña (Guam), and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.