#USA #IL – The Archdiocese of Chicago secured court approval to move forward with a countersuit against individuals it accused of participating in a racketeering scheme that involved filing false claims of sexual abuse by a former priest to secure multimillion-dollar settlements.
Cook County Circuit Court denied a defence motion to dismiss the case, clearing the way for the archdiocese to pursue damages and injunctive relief. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich announced the ruling in a June 12 letter to the archdiocese, stating that the countersuit could proceed after the defendants attempted to have it thrown out.
The archdiocese filed the countersuit on March 24, 2025, in Cook County Circuit Court as a response to several pending cases. It targeted seven defendants, identified as part of a larger network of at least 30 people—including convicted felons, gang members, and their associates—who allegedly conspired to manufacture fraudulent claims against the archdiocese, primarily tied to former priest Daniel McCormack.
Investigators uncovered the alleged scheme through prison and jail phone records, which inmates knew were recorded. One recorded conversation from years earlier featured a claimant admitting he had never participated in McCormack’s programs, saying he “got a lick on ’em” — slang for successfully scamming the archdiocese. Other calls revealed participants coaching each other on fabricating stories, sharing settlement proceeds, and securing litigation funding loans.
McCormack, a notorious figure in the archdiocese’s abuse scandals, pleaded guilty in 2007 to abusing boys on Chicago’s West Side. He served prison time and later faced civil commitments related to his offences. The archdiocese noted that genuine victims of McCormack received compensation, but the fraudulent claims exploited the system established to support real survivors.
Archdiocesan General Counsel James Geoly emphasized the need to protect legitimate victims. “We trust and believe people when they come forward with abuse claims. These individuals have violated that trust and have attempted to take advantage of it,” he stated. “We have a duty to oppose claims we know are false to protect and stand up for real survivors of abuse who ultimately are the ones harmed by fraud.”
The lawsuit described a web of connections through family, friendship, and gang ties. Some participants allegedly drained earlier settlements quickly and then recruited others, promising shares of future payouts. The archdiocese sought to recover damages, including triple and double punitive awards, attorney fees, and injunctions to halt further fraudulent actions. A trial was scheduled for November 30, 2026.
Cardinal Cupich’s June 12 letter also highlighted a broader surge in historical abuse claims over the prior 18 months, attributing much of the increase to aggressive attorney advertising and private equity funding for mass tort litigation. The archdiocese described the rise as “significant” and costly, though it did not disclose exact figures.
The case drew parallels to fraud uncovered in other large-scale abuse settlements elsewhere in the country, though experts noted that verified claims still formed the vast majority. Survivor advocates urged that fraud investigations not deter genuine victims from coming forward.
The archdiocese maintained its commitment to supporting real survivors through therapy, social services, and accountability measures while vowing to investigate all claims rigorously to safeguard resources for those truly harmed.
Image: Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Chicago.
