Attorney Files Dozens More Conn. Lawsuits in Haiti Sex Abuse Case

By Megan Spicer
Connecticut Law Tribune
November 12, 2015

http://www.ctlawtribune.com/id=1202742296959/Attorney-Files-Dozens-More-Conn-Lawsuits-in-Haiti-Sex-Abuse-Case?mcode=0&curindex=0

Two years ago, it appeared the sordid saga of Douglas Perlitz was winding down. The founder of an orphanage in Haiti had been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for molesting children who were under his care, and a civil suit filed on behalf of 24 boys and naming some of Perlitz's institutional backers as defendants — including Fairfield University — had settled for $12 million.

"Right now the victims are very happy," the plaintiffs attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, said at the time. "They're satisfied they can buy food, medicine, clothing and shelter for themselves and their loved ones."

But now it appears the Perlitz case may once again explode in the legal arena. Since the time of the settlement, Garabedian said he's had an "advocate" working in Haiti to try to find additional sex abuse victims. The Boston-based attorney said he has identified 147 additional possible plaintiffs.

Already, Garabedian said he has filed 50 new claims in Connecticut courts, with the latest coming Oct. 30. He anticipates filing dozens more. Each makes the same claim, demanding $20 million in damages against each defendant for each claim made. So far, Perlitz said he's taken 15 depositions and he expects to complete 20 more. He said he's still conducting investigations and making determinations about exactly how many more cases to file.