A judge is considering requests to let three civil cases move forward against the Diocese of Gallup, which has been in bankruptcy proceedings since 2013.
The Albuquerque Journal reports court records show the Diocese of Gallup has "virtually non-existent" assets and was either uninsured or underinsured when many of the 57 claims of clergy sex abuse were made.
Los Angeles attorney James Stang says allowing the three trials would set valuations for the abuse cases to ensure the claimants are offered reasonable payments.
Diocese attorneys are urging U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge David T. Thuma to prevent the cases from going forward. Mediation between the two parties broke down in June, and attorneys for the diocese say Stang is trying to gain an advantage if talks resume.
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