Lawyers representing a man from New Hampshire who won a significant lawsuit about abuse at a state-operated youth detention center are requesting a hearing. This follows concerns raised by the jury foreperson over the possibility of reducing the awarded amount from $38 million to $475,000.
Last Friday, jurors decided on $18 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in enhanced damages for David Meehan. He accused the state of negligence that allowed him to endure repeated rape, beatings, and solitary confinement during his time as a teenager at the Youth Development Center in Manchester.
However, the attorney general’s office indicated the award would likely be lowered under a state law capping claims against the government at $475,000 per incident.
Rus Rilee talks to the media (Via Neil Baton/Shutterstock)
“I’m so sorry. I’m devastated,” wrote the jury foreperson to attorney Rus Rilee on Friday evening, prompting the request for a hearing filed on Saturday.
Jurors were unaware of the cap but had determined that Meehan had proven “one” incident. It remains unclear if they considered this as a single abuse instance or grouped all allegations.
“We had no idea,” the jury foreperson added. “Had we known that the settlement amount was to be on a per incident basis, I assure you, our outcome would have reflected it. I pray that Mr. Meehan realizes this and is made as whole as he can be within a proper amount of time.”
