Former altar boy awarded $8.7m for sexual abuse

Former altar boy awarded $8.7m
Sued Vt. diocese over sexual abuse
By
Associated Press / May 14, 2008
BURLINGTON, Vt. - A jury has awarded $8.7 million in damages to a former altar boy who sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington over sexual abuse he says he suffered at the hands of a priest.

more stories like thisThe man, now a 40-year-old mechanical engineer in Lakewood, Colo., sued the diocese over molestation he contends that he suffered at the hands of the Rev. Edward Paquette, a parish priest, in the 1970s. His suit alleged negligent supervision by the diocese, accusing church officials of hiring Paquette despite warnings about allegations of molestation of boys in previous assignments.

After about five hours of deliberations, the Chittenden County Superior Court jury yesterday returned a verdict calling for $950,000 in compensatory damages and $7.75 million in punitive damages.

The Associated Press does not identify victims of sexual assault without their consent.

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