Santa Clara Sex Abuse Victim Awarded Millions
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) _ A jury has awarded $30 million to a Northern California boy who was the victim of more than 600 sexual abuse acts while in foster care.
Stephen Estey, a lawyer for the plaintiff who is now 25-years-old, said his client cried when the verdict was read Wednesday in a Santa Clara County court.
The jury found San Jose-based defendant Giarretto Institute negligent for failing to properly monitor and investigate the Mountain View home of John Hardy Jackson, who was convicted in 2006 of sexual abuse.
The jury found Giarretto Institute 75 percent responsible for injuries to the child and Jackson 25 percent responsible.
Giarretto Institute attorney Linda Kollar could not be reached for comment.
The abuse took place between 1995 and 1999.