By JIM BUTLER
The courtroom is filling up as more parties join the Diocese of Alexandria bankruptcy proceedings.
Bankruptcy Judge John Hodge on Monday signed five orders, including one requested by the Diocese of Shreveport and one by the newly appointed interim U.S. Trustee.
Kevin Epstein is interim trustee for the Louisiana-Mississippi district, appointed by the U.S. Attorney General to add that to his trustee duties in the Western-Southern Texas district.
He successfully asked the court to delay until September 15 the deadline to object to the Diocese motion for an order appointing legal representation for the interests of any future claims holders in the case and for retention of a Future Claims Representative.
Hodge also ordered hearing that date of other new parties’ motions to compel production of allocation protocol, objecting to the future claims deadline, and allowing the Shreveport entity to object to the disclosure statement of the proposed reorganization plan.
The Diocese filed Chapter 11 last October 31 in the face of pending claims alleging clergy sexual abuse.
Shreveport’s filing notes that ideally a settlement is achieved that includes it and former Alexandria parishes.
In seeking a plan modification, the motion says it should clarify the insurance rights of both those interests.
From late 1976 through mid-1986 and Alexandria and their church parishes were one diocese.
Claims in the Alexandria case date as far back as the 1970s.