Florida jury awards $100m in sex abuse case
Published:Friday | November 11, 2011 | 12:00 AM
MIAMI (AP):
A Miami jury has returned a $100-million verdict against a Roman Catholic priest in a child sex abuse case, but the money may be nearly impossible to collect.
The verdict on Thursday came against Neil Doherty, who is jailed in Broward County awaiting trial on criminal charges related to a different abuse case. Doherty has pleaded not guilty in the criminal case.
Attorney Jeff Herman said the verdict is the first against Doherty himself. About 20 lawsuits have been filed against the Archdiocese of Miami involving similar allegations against Doherty. Many have been settled out of court.
Herman says there may not be much money to collect from Doherty. But Herman says the verdict will help the victim heal and send a message that such conduct is intolerable.