Jury Finds Del. Church Liable in Sexual Abuse Case, by Kelly Bayliss, NBC Philadelphia, December 1, 2010

Jury Finds Del. Church Liable in Sexual Abuse Case

By Kelly Bayliss
NBC Philadelphia
December 1, 2010

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Jury-Says-Del-Church--111130289.html

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A jury has found a Roman Catholic parish in Wilmington liable for a former priest's sexual abuse of a young boy in the 1960s and has awarded the victim $33 million.

The jury ruled Wednesday that St. Elizabeth's parish was negligent in not preventing Francis DeLuca from sexually abusing John Vai.

The jury levied $30 million in compensatory damages for Vai against DeLuca and another $3 million in compensatory damages against St. Elizabeth's. A hearing to consider punitive damages against the parish and DeLuca begins Monday.

The 80-year-old DeLuca was defrocked in 2008 after serving 60 days in a New York jail for repeatedly molesting his 18-year-old grandnephew. Vai's lawsuit is expected to be the first in a series by DeLuca's alleged victims to go to trial.

The former priest admitted to molesting countless boys in his home after they played games and on trips for more than 30 years, according to court documents.

Back in October, the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy claiming that it was the best way to ensure compensation for all of the victims.