By Sean O’sullivan
News Journal
November 30, 2010
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20101130/NEWS/101130034/Jury-begins-deliberations-in-priest-sex-abuse-case
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| Francis DeLuca has not appeared at the trial. (File) |
DOVER -- A jury has begun its deliberations in the sex abuse case brought by John Vai against defrocked priest Francis DeLuca and St. Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic Parish.
Superior Court President Judge James T. Vaughn Jr. read jurors excerpts of the law related to the personal injury claims and the claims brought under the Delaware Child Victims Act of 2007 this morning and gave the panel final instructions before dismissing them to deliberate around 11:30 a.m.
The jury at this point is only considering potential liability by St. Elizabeth’s for acts committed by Deluca in the late 1960s against Vai and possible compensatory damages owed to Vai.
Vaughn already ruled that DeLuca, who admitted to molesting Vai and did not appear at trial to defend himself, is liable, leaving the jury only to decide the amount of damages owed Vai by DeLuca.
After this verdict is returned, it is expected the jury will hear more testimony to consider punitive damages against DeLuca, and possibly against St. Elizabeth’s if it finds the parish was negligent or grossly negligent in its actions and supervision of DeLuca.
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