The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $660m (€478m) to 500 victims of sexual abuse dating back as far as the 1940s in the largest compensation deal of its kind.
The settlement, which means victims will receive more than $1m each, is the largest from the Catholic Church in recent years following many cases in which victims sought financial compensation for suffering abuse from priests.
The lead plaintiff attorney in the case said he would issue a joint announcement with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles today about the settlement.
The case was scheduled to go to trial tomorrow in Los Angeles Superior Court. It was to focus on 12 plaintiffs who accused a former priest of molesting them. The priest died 20 years ago.
Because the criminal statute of limitations has expired, victims in California and elsewhere have brought lawsuits against the Church over the issue.
The judge hearing the case would have to approve the settlement.
