Springfield diocese settles with insurer for tornado damage

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield has agreed to a $60 million settlement with its insurer for damage done to a parochial high school and other church property by a tornado two years ago.

The resolution with insurer Catholic Mutual Group announced Tuesday settles a sometimes contentious dispute over how much money it would take to rebuild Cathedral High School. The diocese and the insurer were tens of millions of dollars apart in their estimates.

The June 1, 2011 tornado made the building that housed the high school and St. Michael's Academy middle school unsafe.

The insurer has already paid nearly $20 million and will make another payment of $40 million. The settlement also covers repairs for several other church properties.

The president of Catholic Mutual called the settlement an "amicable conclusion."

Cox Media Group