Catholic archdiocese vs. insurer in priest sex abuse cases

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Roman Catholic archdiocese in Connecticut is taking its dispute with an insurance company to trial, seeking reimbursement of more than $1 million in payments made to settle sexual misconduct cases involving priests and minors.

The case is one of many around the country in which insurance companies have balked at paying claims related to lawsuits over priest sex abuse.

The Hartford archdiocese says Interstate Fire & Casualty has breached its contract by refusing to reimburse church officials for payments made in four abuse cases after the company reimbursed them previously in other abuse settlements.

The trial is scheduled to begin Friday in federal court in New Haven.

A lawyer and a spokeswoman for the Chicago-based insurance company declined to comment.