On August 28, 2023, the bankruptcy court granted the Committee’s application to employ Burns Bair LLP (“Burns Bair”) as the Committee’s special insurance counsel. The Court authorized Burns Bair to assist the Committee with analyzing the insurance policies of the debtor and obtaining insurance recoveries, among other things.

On May 25, 2023, the bankruptcy court granted the Committee’s application to employ Berkeley Research Group, LLC (“BRG”) as the Committee’s financial advisor. The Court authorized BRG to assist the Committee with analyzing the financial condition of the debtor, among other things. BRG’s analysis will provide insight into the scope of the Debtor’s assets and the Debtor’s ability to compensate survivors. 

On March 27, 2023, the United States Trustee, the governmental body tasked with overseeing bankruptcy cases, appointed nine members to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the “Committee”).  The Committee was appointed to represent all unsecured creditors of the Debtor, which are predominately comprised of sexual abuse survivors. More information regarding the role of the Committee can be found at Overview of Bankruptcy Process.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Santa Rosa aka Diocese of Santa Rosa filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 13, 2023. In its initial case filings, the Diocese stated that “The RCBSR intends to negotiate a plan of reorganization as early as possible which will: (a) allocate the RCBSR’s remaining assets fairly among the legitimate competing interests for such property; (b) provide a process to fully, fairly and expeditiously liquidate claims of Abuse survivors; and (c) permit the RCBSR to carry on the RCBSR’s essential ministries and services so the RCBSR can continue to meet the needs of the Non-Debtor Catholic Entities, parishioners, and others who rely on the RCBSR’s ministry, education, and charitable outreach.”

The Debtor indicated that at the time it filed for bankruptcy it held assets exceeding $10 million and liabilities ranging from $10 million to $50 million.