Franciscan Friars of California Sexual Abuse Settlement, $20M, Status & What Survivors Need to Know

The Franciscan Friars of California, Inc. agreed to a $20 million settlement on February 4, 2026, resolving sexual abuse claims brought by approximately 95 survivors in the organization’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. The settlement will fund a trust for eligible survivors whose claims were already filed in the bankruptcy proceeding. The agreement remains subject to U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval in the Northern District of California. No new claims are currently being accepted — the bankruptcy proof-of-claim deadline passed on July 19, 2024.

Quick Facts

• Case type: Bankruptcy-based group settlement (Chapter 11), U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California, Oakland Division, Case No. 23-41723 WJL
• Defendant: Franciscan Friars of California, Inc. and affiliated ministries
• Current status: Settlement agreed February 4, 2026; pending Bankruptcy Court approval; ballot process and bankruptcy exit plan in development
• Who may be affected: Survivors of sexual abuse by Franciscan Friars clergy or institutional representatives who filed proofs of claim in the bankruptcy proceeding by the July 19, 2024 bar date
• Settlement amount: $20,000,000
• Claim deadline: The proof-of-claim bar date was July 19, 2024; no new claims are being accepted at this time
• Court administrator: Angeion Group (bankruptcy.angeiongroup.com/Clients/ffc)
• Presiding judge: Judge William J. Lafferty III, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California

Current Status and What Happens Next

The Franciscan Friars of California and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors — representing the approximately 95 abuse survivors — announced the $20 million settlement agreement on February 4, 2026. The agreement was reached after more than 13 months of mediation involving approximately 15 parties, facilitated by national law firm Lowenstein Sandler on behalf of the survivors’ committee.

The settlement is not yet final. The parties are currently working on a joint bankruptcy reorganization plan and a ballot process that will include an opt-out provision for survivors. Judge William J. Lafferty III of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California must approve both the reorganization plan and the settlement before any trust distributions are made. Survivors who filed timely claims in the bankruptcy will receive information about the ballot and opt-out process as the court proceedings advance. Survivors with questions about the status of their filed claims can contact the case administrator, Angeion Group, through the official case website at bankruptcy.angeiongroup.com/Clients/ffc.

What the Lawsuit Alleges

The Franciscan Friars of California, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on December 31, 2023, citing 94 child sexual abuse claims filed against the Oakland-based religious order. Those claims were made possible by a California state law that temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, allowing survivors to file claims that had previously been time-barred. The lawsuits allege that Franciscan clergy and institutional representatives sexually abused children within the order’s ministries and facilities over several decades.

The allegations against the Franciscan Friars span cases from the 1940s through the late 1990s. The Friars have publicly identified more than 50 friars credibly accused of sexually abusing children within their ministries since 1950. Of the accused friars who remain alive — the order states that six survive — all have been permanently removed from public ministry and placed under third-party supervision. Investigators also found that before filing for bankruptcy, the Friars transferred at least $7 million to affiliated retreat centers and ministries; a forensic investigation identified these transfers and the funds were recovered through the mediation process.

Who Could Be Included

The settlement covers survivors who filed timely proofs of claim in the bankruptcy proceeding before the court-established bar date of July 19, 2024. Approximately 95 individuals met that threshold and are represented in the survivor trust as class members. Almost all claims involve conduct connected to California-based Franciscan institutions.

Institutions associated with the abuse claims include Old Mission Santa Barbara and St. Anthony’s Seminary — a now-closed institution in Santa Barbara that also operated a boys’ choir. Attorneys representing local survivors have noted that more than half of the approximately 95 survivors have some connection to the Santa Barbara institutions. The abuse period covered by the settlement spans from the 1940s through the late 1990s; the Friars have stated that all identified abuse “occurred at least 27 years ago.” Survivors who did not file a proof of claim by July 19, 2024, are not currently included in this settlement trust.

Settlement Details

The $20 million settlement fund will be deposited into a trust established for the benefit of the approximately 95 eligible survivors. The fund comes from three sources: the Franciscan Friars of California directly, proceeds from affiliated non-bankrupt ministries, and proceeds from settlements with the Friars’ insurance carriers.

The settlement will allow the Franciscan Friars to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy while retaining their assets, including real estate holdings. Parties are currently working on the terms of a joint reorganization plan that will be submitted to the bankruptcy court for approval. Once the court approves the plan and trust distribution procedures, eligible survivors — those who filed timely bankruptcy claims — will receive information about the distribution process. The settlement and distribution methodology will be administered under court supervision. Survivors with filed claims should monitor communications from their attorneys or from the Angeion Group case website for updates on the court approval timeline and distribution procedures.

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Prior Related Cases and Context

The Franciscan Friars of California are the first California-based religious entity to file for bankruptcy following the revival of the state statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse — and the first such entity in California to reach a settlement in bankruptcy. California’s law temporarily opened a window for survivors to file decades-old claims that had previously expired. Several other California dioceses and religious organizations followed a similar path: religious entities in Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa all filed for bankruptcy after the law took effect.

The Diocese of Oakland separately filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has proposed a $117 million trust to resolve approximately 350 clergy sexual abuse claims. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles reached an $880 million settlement in a prior proceeding. These cases collectively reflect the broad scope of California’s legislative effort to provide survivors with a legal avenue for redress.

FAQs

Is this a class action lawsuit? 

No. This is a group settlement reached within a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The settlement resolves abuse claims filed by approximately 95 survivors whose proofs of claim were accepted during the bankruptcy process, and it is administered under court supervision.

Has the settlement been approved? 

Not yet. The $20 million settlement was agreed upon on February 4, 2026, but it remains subject to approval by Judge William J. Lafferty III of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California. The parties are developing a joint reorganization plan and ballot process as the next step toward court approval.

Who may be eligible for settlement compensation? 

Survivors who filed a proof of claim in the Franciscan Friars of California bankruptcy proceeding by the July 19, 2024 bar date are eligible to participate. The settlement covers survivors of sexual abuse by Franciscan clergy or institutional representatives, primarily in California institutions, from the 1940s through the late 1990s.

Can I still file a claim? 

The bankruptcy proof-of-claim deadline was July 19, 2024. No new claims are currently being accepted in this settlement. Survivors who believe they have a claim but did not file by that deadline should consult a qualified attorney to understand what options, if any, may still be available.

Where can I find official case information? 

The Angeion Group administers the bankruptcy case. Official case documents and docket information are available at bankruptcy.angeiongroup.com/Clients/ffc. Survivors with filed claims can also contact their attorneys for case updates.

What happens next? 

The Franciscan Friars and the survivors’ committee will work together on a joint bankruptcy reorganization plan that will be submitted to the bankruptcy court for approval. Once approved, the $20 million trust will be funded and distributions to eligible survivors will begin according to the court-approved allocation procedures.

What does the opt-out provision mean? 

As part of the ballot process being developed, eligible survivors will have an opportunity to opt out of the settlement. Survivors who opt out would not receive trust distributions but would retain the right to pursue their claims separately. Specific opt-out procedures will be announced when the reorganization plan is filed with the court.

Last Updated: February 28, 2026

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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