$30 Million Award in Priest Sex Abuse Case May be Largest Ever

BALTIMORE (AP) A jury in Delaware has awarded $30 million in compensatory damages to John Vai, a man who claimed he was sexually abused by a priest when he was a boy in the 1960s.

One church abuse expert says it is by far the largest single verdict in a clergy sex abuse case.

Wednesday's judgment is also unique because the jury found that the St. Elizabeth's parish in Wilmington is partly responsible for the abuse and must pay $3 million of the compensatory damages.

Deliberations on punitive damages are set to begin Monday.

A judge previously found that Francis DeLuca was liable for the abuse of John Vai.

The 80-year-old was defrocked in 2008 after serving 60 days in a New York jail for repeatedly molesting his 18-year-old grandnephew.