You are right, I read all of the depositions, Laird was "in the know" about the true status of that archdiocese.  He knew that priests with substantiated claims of sexual abuse were working in the archdiocese and the archbishop was lying when he assured the faithful  several times, that there were no such priests working in the diocese.  He knew about the lack of any effective monitoring program for removed/retired offender clergy.  He could have revealed the deception.  The whistle was finally blown by J. Hassleberger 
I do think he did the right thing by resigning,  but big deal,  you should do the right thing.  It was good that he told the archbishop that he should resign.
 
PR2, as usual, makes a good point.  That archdiocese put the faithful through a mess, to put it mildly. Mr. Laird could help the faithful as PR2 suggests, by letting them know the truth and fill in the many holes that still remain, including the current state of the archdiocese as he sees it.  He owes them that.