A federal bankruptcy judge has denied motions by several major insurance companies seeking to disallow sexual abuse claims against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, ruling that the insurers lack standing because they have not accepted financial responsibility for the claims.
In a 16-page decision issued September 3, 2025, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert E. Littlefield, Jr. of the Northern District of New York rejected arguments by London Market Insurers and Hartford insurance companies that they should be permitted to challenge claims in the Diocese's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. The ruling in Case No. 23-10244 represents a significant setback for insurers seeking to limit their exposure in Catholic diocese bankruptcy proceedings.
"The Insurers cannot establish standing without something more, be it an affirmative commitment to provide plan funding or official recognition of a legal obligation to creditors," Judge Littlefield wrote in his memorandum decision and order.
The dispute began in June 2025 when Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London and London Market Companies filed motions to disallow dozens of sexual abuse claims filed against the Diocese. Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company and Hartford Fire Insurance Company followed with similar motions in July. The Official Committee of Tort Claimants opposed the motions, arguing the insurers lacked the requisite standing to challenge claims when they dispute their own liability.
Judge Littlefield's decision relied heavily on the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling in Truck Insurance Exchange v. Kaiser Gypsum Co., which established that insurers with "financial responsibility" for bankruptcy claims qualify as "parties in interest" under Section 1109 of the Bankruptcy Code. However, the judge found crucial distinctions between that case and the Albany Diocese proceedings.
"There is currently a clear distinction between this case and Truck: there has been no proposed plan filed in this case," the judge noted. Unlike in Truck, where the insurer had accepted responsibility for defending and paying thousands of asbestos claims, the Albany Diocese insurers "have not accepted financial responsibility for claims against the Diocese."
The court emphasized that the insurers are not obligated to pay claims even if they are found valid against the Diocese. Hartford's policies, for example, only require payment of sums "which [the Diocese] shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of bodily injury or property damage to which this insurance applies, caused by an occurrence."
The Diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2023 amid mounting sexual abuse lawsuits. The case remains in mediation, with no reorganization plan yet proposed. A separate adversary proceeding regarding insurance coverage is also pending and in mediation.
Judge Littlefield noted that nothing in his decision prevents the insurers from filing new motions if circumstances change. "Should the Insurers be found liable for certain claims or commit to funding the plan, the question of their status can certainly be renewed," he wrote.
The ruling adds to a growing body of case law interpreting the Supreme Court's Truck decision in the context of Catholic diocese bankruptcies. Several dioceses across the country have filed for bankruptcy protection in recent years as they face waves of sexual abuse claims following changes in state statute of limitations laws.
The Albany Diocese case involves insurance companies that have been participating in state court proceedings and settlement conferences while maintaining they have reserved their rights under their policies. This voluntary participation, the court found, was insufficient to establish the financial responsibility required for standing under the Truck precedent.
The decision reflects the complex interplay between bankruptcy law and insurance coverage in mass tort cases involving Catholic institutions. As the court noted, the determination of whether an insurance company should be considered a party in interest depends on the facts at the time the issue is raised.
This article was prepared using Stretto Conductor, our new AI-powered assistant that's here to help. Stretto Conductor was able to create this summary of a 16 page court filing in less than a minute. Always review the underlying docket filings for accurate information. The information and responses generated by Stretto Conductor may contain errors or inaccuracies and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional or legal advice.