Brentwood, NH. A jury in Rockingham County Superior Court today awarded $38 million to David Meehan, a victim of sexual and physical abuse while in State care at the Youth Development Center (YDC) in Manchester, New Hampshire.
The verdict was calculated as follows:
- $18 million in compensatory damages to compensate Meehan for his pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
- $20 million in “enhanced damages” because the State engaged in “wanton, malicious, and oppressive conduct” by abusing its power in permitting the sexual assaults, excessive solitary confinement, and physical abuse.
The $38 million verdict is the largest verdict in a contested personal injury case in the history of New Hampshire. It is the first of more than 1,000 cases brought against the State by child victims of abuse at the YDC and other State child facilities or contractors.
Co-counsel Rus Rilee of Rilee & Associates and David Vicinanzo of Nixon Peabody LLP stated: “David Meehan is a hero in New Hampshire history for having the courage to tell the truth about the State’s grotesque abuse of him as a child. He spoke truth to power, and the jury sent a powerful message validating his harm and condemning the State’s wanton, malicious, and oppressive conduct.”
In addition to Vicinanzo, the Nixon Peabody team included partners Mark Knights, Brian French, Dan Deane, Nathan Warecki, and April Schweitzer; senior counsel Samuel Goldblatt and Michael Philippi; counsel Michal Cantor; associates Erin Bucksbaum and Allison Regan; eDiscovery and Litigation Support director Michael Swiatocha; senior paralegal Sharon Willier; paralegal and victim specialist Joelle Wiggin; and paralegal Erin MacMahon.
