The Associated Press has reported that the state of Delaware decided to award $30 million in compensatory damages to a victim that came forward with sexual abuse allegations. The victim said that he was subjected to sex abuse by a priest when he was a young boy in the 1960s.
According to one clergy abuse expert, the verdict is the largest given in a sex abuse case involving a priest. The judgment issued on Wednesday also is unique because the jury found that the St. Elizabeth parish in Delaware was partly responsible for the sexual abuse and ordered the church to pay the victim $3 million of the personal injury award amount.
On Monday, deliberations regarding punitive damages are expected to begin.
A judge found earlier that Fancis DeLuca was liable for abuse suffered by John Vai. The 80-year-old priest was then defrocked in 2008 after serving 60 days in a New York jail for repeatedly molesting his 18-year-old grandnephew.
If you were abused by a priest, contact us to get legal advice from a clergy abuse attorney!
According to one clergy abuse expert, the verdict is the largest given in a sex abuse case involving a priest. The judgment issued on Wednesday also is unique because the jury found that the St. Elizabeth parish in Delaware was partly responsible for the sexual abuse and ordered the church to pay the victim $3 million of the personal injury award amount.
On Monday, deliberations regarding punitive damages are expected to begin.
A judge found earlier that Fancis DeLuca was liable for abuse suffered by John Vai. The 80-year-old priest was then defrocked in 2008 after serving 60 days in a New York jail for repeatedly molesting his 18-year-old grandnephew.
If you were abused by a priest, contact us to get legal advice from a clergy abuse attorney!
