Jury awards $4.5M for intercourse abuse that occurred 3 a long time in the past
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PORTLAND, Maine — A jury has awarded $4.5 million in damages to a girl whose lawsuit contended she was sexually abused three a long time in the past by a household good friend in Maine.
The federal jury present in favor of 36-year-old Julia Russell on Thursday on one civil rely of assault and battery and a second rely of infliction of emotional misery.
The defendant, Philip Chenevert, 73, of St. Augustine, Florida, was buddies with the sufferer’s household and visited the house weekly. Russell stated she was abused by Chenevert when she was about 6 years previous.
Whereas The Related Press doesn’t usually establish victims of intercourse crimes, Russell allowed her title for use within the litigation and in information experiences, stated Taylor Asen, certainly one of Russell’s attorneys.
Two different girls who discovered of the sufferer’s case from information experiences about her story testified on the trial that they, too, had been abused by Chenevert.
The concept two girls who didn’t know Russell and had nothing to realize would testify was a constructive end result together with the vindication of Russell’s claims, Asen stated. A felony report has been made, Asen stated, and “I hope that what got here out of the trial will probably be helpful.”
Chenevert categorically denied any abuse, and his lawyer informed jurors that recollections can grow to be clouded over time. His lawyer didn’t instantly reply to an e-mail Friday.
