HAYWARD (CA)
KGO
Apr. 13 (AP) — Two brothers molested by a priest more than two decades ago were awarded nearly $2 million in damages by a jury Wednesday.
The case involving the abuse of Bob and Tom Thatcher was closely watched because it is the first in a series of sex-abuse lawsuits to seek punitive damages.
Bob Thatcher, 34, was awarded $875,000 in compensatory damages and $875,000 in punitive damages. His brother Tom, 33, was awarded $180,000 in compensatory damages and no punitive damages were sought in his case.
While the total award of $1.93 million was far less than the $27 million plaintiffs attorney Rick Simons asked for in closing arguments, he said he was pleased the jury ruled that the Oakland Diocese acted with malice and awarded punitive damages.
Posted by kshaw at April 13, 2005 07:51 PM