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	Clergy Abuse in Delaware: Deliberations Continue in Deluca Trial By Sean O'Sullivan News Journal December 1, 2010 http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20101201/NEWS01/12010329/Deliberations-continue-in-DeLuca-trial DOVER -- A jury will begin a second day of deliberation today in the sex-abuse case brought by John Vai against defrocked priest Francis DeLuca and St. Elizabeth's Roman Catholic Parish. The panel deliberated for about five hours Tuesday, after hearing final instructions from Superior Court President Judge James T. Vaughn Jr. At about 4:30 p.m. the jury sent out a note asking what would happen if they did not reach agreement on a verdict by 5 p.m. Vaughn told the jurors that if they had not reached a verdict, they could all go home and return Wednesday morning to continue their work, and then promptly allowed the group of 12 to do just that. 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. Contact Sean O'Sullivan at 324-2777 or sosullivan@delawareonline.com.
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