The Continental Objection
The U.S. Trustee’s Office raised one last challenge, arguing the Continental deal violated the Supreme Court’s 2024 Purdue Pharma ruling, which restricts third-party releases in bankruptcy. But Judge Warren rejected that stance, pointing to subsequent rulings allowing insurers to buy back policies free of claims.
Barring such deals, he warned, would create a “chilling effect” on bankruptcy sales.
“I Know This Can’t Fix You”
For many survivors, the legal fight has been grueling. Judge Warren acknowledged the frustration. “I know this can’t fix you, and for that I’m sorry,” he told them, expressing hope that the resolution offers some measure of validation.
Counsel for the unsecured creditors committee called the Continental settlement “the single largest in a diocesan case.”
Tying the Knot on a Landmark Case
With the plan confirmed, the Diocese of Rochester closes a dark chapter—but not without scars. Survivors, advocates, and the Church alike now face the question of how to rebuild trust and move forward.
Judge Warren, shoelace in hand, left the courtroom with a symbolic reminder: after six years of delay, frustration, and pain, the case was finally bound shut.
