U.S. Fire Insurance Agrees to $30 Million Settlement for 145 Winona-Rochester Clergy-Abuse Survivors

In a significant development, the United States Fire Insurance Company has agreed to a $30 million settlement to provide additional compensation to 145 survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and staff within the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. This agreement follows years of litigation concerning the insurer’s responsibility for claims that date back several decades.

Represented by St. Paul-based Jeff Anderson & Associates, the survivors have faced a long journey toward justice. Attorney Jeff Anderson highlighted that some of the abuse covered by this settlement dates back to the early 1960s, with survivors beginning to file claims against the diocese as early as the early 1980s. This settlement is separate from funds previously obtained through the diocese’s bankruptcy proceedings, which began in 2018 when the Diocese of Winona-Rochester filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid numerous sexual-abuse claims.

In 2021, a settlement was reached with 145 survivors involving the diocese and other insurers, but U.S. Fire was not part of that agreement, leaving its obligations unresolved. The newly announced $30 million settlement is additional compensation resulting from the dispute over U.S. Fire’s insurance coverage. This resolution follows three abuse cases that went to trial in Winona and Olmsted counties in 2025, resulting in jury awards totaling approximately $16.9 million for cases involving abuse of minors during the 1970s.

The settlement also resolves a significant insurance dispute that persisted beyond the diocese’s bankruptcy process. The Diocese of Winona-Rochester’s vicar general confirmed that this agreement concludes future litigation arising from the bankruptcy. The diocese reiterated its commitment to its Safe Environment Program, aimed at protecting children, vulnerable adults, and young people participating in various church activities.

While U.S. Fire’s parent company, Crum & Forster, did not respond to inquiries about the settlement, the agreement marks a pivotal moment for survivors who have navigated decades of underlying abuse, civil claims, bankruptcy proceedings, and insurance litigation. As the community reflects on this development, it is essential to remember the biblical call to justice and mercy, as expressed in Micah 6:8, to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

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