New Lawsuit Alleges San Diego Catholic Diocese Fraudulently Transferred Real Estate Assets to Parishes to Avoid Child Sexual Abuse Claims

The Zalkin Law Firm P.C. has filed a 479-page lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Bishop of San Diego a Corporation Sole (the Diocese) and every Catholic Parish in San Diego, alleging that in September of 2019, the Catholic Diocese of San Diego fraudulently transferred assets to separate parish corporations it created to avoid paying settlements or judgments in potentially hundreds of lawsuits, when the California legislature had just passed a bill opening a three year window to allow older victims of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits against their perpetrators and institutions like the Diocese.

In a February 9, 2023 letter to parishioners Bishop Robert Cardinal McElroy states “‘The parish assets have been held in recent years by individual parish corporations, and before that they were held by the Diocese in trust for each particular parish community.”

VIEW COMPLAINT

Watch the press conference held on 2/22 in San Diego with Attorney Irwin Zalkin:

View Press Release

Helping Our Clients Get Closure

Millions Recovered on Behalf of Our Clients

Clergy Sexual Abuse
Multi-Victim $660,000,000
Irwin Zalkin was one of the lead trial lawyers and part of the trial team prepared to commence a 14 victim trial against the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles, the day a global settlement was reached in the amount of $660,000,000.
Clergy Sexual Abuse
Multi-Victim $198,500,000
Irwin Zalkin was appointed Mediation Liaison Counsel and a lead negotiator by United States Magistrate Judge Leo S. Papas on behalf of over 144 victims of childhood sexual abuse against the Roman Catholic Bishop of San Diego.
Clergy Sexual Abuse
Multi-Victim $100,000,000
Irwin Zalkin was part of the team of lawyers representing clergy sexual abuse survivors in the Diocese of Orange, California who recently helped to negotiate the first $100,000,000 global settlement in the country involving childhood sexual abuse by members of the Catholic clergy.
Clergy Sexual Abuse
Multi-Victim $10,500,000
Multi-victim case against religious group home.
Clergy Sexual Abuse
Multi-Victim $8,000,000
Multi-victim case against a religious leader and institution.
Lohse v. Lakeland Village HOA (Oakland, CA) $8,000,000
An $8 Million judgment against a resort facility after a six-week jury trial for a woman who was rendered a paraplegic following a fall off of an unguarded pier.
Child Sexual Abuse
Single Victim $4,250,000
$4.25 Million paid to single sexual abuse Plaintiff.
Clergy Sexual Abuse
Multi-Victim $4,200,000
Three survivors abused as minors by priests associated with a Northern California Diocese.
Child Sexual Abuse
Single Victim $4,150,000
$4.15 Million paid to single sexual abuse Plaintiff.
Child Sexual Abuse
Single Victim $4,000,000
$4 Million paid to single sexual abuse Plaintiff.

View All Case results

Advocating for Sexual Abuse Survivors Nationwide

The Zalkin Law Firm is one of the nation’s most trusted, successful, and respected sexual abuse firms. Comprised of caring and compassionate advocates, we represent sexual abuse survivors who’ve faced tremendous suffering and setbacks as a result of their traumas, as well as immense burdens created by years of silence, secrecy, and willful cover-ups.

Over the past 20 years, our firm has helped hundreds of clergy, campus, and childhood sex abuse survivors find their voice in the justice system, and has recovered millions in compensation on their behalves.

Our attorneys have spearheaded global settlements in high-profile cases against some of the most powerful organizations and institutions in the world, and have secured legal victories for survivors in multi-victim and single-victim sex abuse cases across California, New York, and the U.S.

Backed by decades of experience and extensive resources, we help victims take on organizations such as the Catholic Church, Boy Scouts of America, and Jehovah’s Witnesses, and represent campus sexual abuse survivors in civil and Title IX proceedings at universities nationwide.

Despite promises of reform or public repentance, many of these institutions prospered while ignoring, mishandling, and casting aside victims’ claims. We believe the time has come to hold them responsible.

If you or someone you love have questions about a potential sex abuse claim, The Zalkin Law Firm is available to help. We proudly serve survivors nationwide, and offer free and confidential consultations.

Putting Survivors First

The Zalkin Law Firm is devoted to providing survivors with a voice in the civil justice system, and helping them feel safe and empowered when stepping forward. We know pursuing a claim requires immense courage, and we work to ensure clients are treated with the respect, patience, and understanding they deserve.

Request a confidential Consultation

Featured in The News

Helping You Rebuild & Move Forward

We've Helped Hundreds of Survivors Get Justice

“Having been privileged to work with these professionals, I highly recommend and trust them to handle any sexual abuse case in confidence and handled with the utmost of confidentiality and integrity anyone would desire as a victim or a survivor.”
- Guy
“My experience with the Zalkin Law Firm has been life-altering. It was a pleasure to work with every employee at the firm. They made me feel as if they genuinely cared about me while maintaining a professional statute.”
- Alex
“The Zalkin Law Firm does not just represent their clients, The feeling they put into their cases makes you feel like you are part of a family. I can proudly say that I am part of a brotherhood and sisterhood of genuine and caring people.”
- Jason