Five with abuse claims appointed to committee in archdiocese bankruptcy

Five people with abuse claims against Catholic clergy were appointed Monday to a committee that will represent the interests of unsecured creditors in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee bankruptcy reorganization.

In a court filing, the U.S. Trustee for northern Illinois and Wisconsin, who appointed the five, described them as among those who hold the largest unsecured claims against the archdiocese and are willing to serve on the committee. No one else was appointed.

Attorney Mike Finnegan confirmed that all five committee members have abuse claims against Catholic clergy. Finnegan is a lawyer with Jeff Anderson & Associates, a St. Paul, Minn., firm that represents abuse victims.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Trustee program did not respond to an inquiry late Monday. The U.S. Trustee helps administer and oversee bankruptcy cases.

JSOnline