US News
Attorney fined $400,000 for breaching order over New Orleans priest's record
The Guardian reports that Richard Trahant says the $400,000 fine was worth paying after the archdiocese listed priest Paul Hart as credibly accused of abuse.
The short version
- A federal judge fined New Orleans attorney Richard Trahant more than $400,000 for breaching a bankruptcy confidentiality order, and the amount later grew by $60,000 in interest.[The Guardian]
- Trahant says the fine was worth paying after the archdiocese added the late priest Paul Hart to its list of credibly accused clergy on November 6.[The Guardian]
- Trahant's appeal failed when the US Supreme Court declined to hear the case in June.[The Guardian]
Key facts
- Attorney Richard Trahant was fined more than $400,000 for violating a bankruptcy court confidentiality order.[The Guardian]
- The $400,000 fine grew by $60,000 because of interest.[The Guardian]
- The archdiocese of New Orleans added Paul Hart to its list of credibly accused Catholic priests and deacons on November 6.[The Guardian]
- Trahant said the fine was worth it now that the church has officially classified Hart as a clergy molester.[The Guardian]
- The US Supreme Court declined to hear Trahant's appeal of the fine in June.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- Trahant's view that the payment was worth it is his own characterization, and the reporting relies on his account.[The Guardian]
- This event rests on reporting from a single outlet, The Guardian, and has not been independently confirmed by other outlets.[The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.