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$60m Deal Settles Sex-abuse Claims against Fairfield U. Grad’s Haitian Charity

By Michael P. Mayko
Connecticut Post
January 25, 2019

https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/60M-deal-settles-sex-abuse-claims-against-13561016.php

Fairfield University and four affiliated religious and charitable organizations today settled a series of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse in a school for homeless boys founded and operated by Douglas Perlitz with the help of several Catholic charitable organizations.

Today’s action is the second global settlement of civil suits brought on behalf of young Haitian boys by Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston-based lawyer who has built a reputation for bringing sexual abuse suits against Catholic priests and employees throughout the United States. In 2013 he settled 23 similar lawsuits for $12 million on behalf of 24 boys.

“A significant proportion of the funds to be used in the University’s contribution to the settlement will come through a University Insurance carrier,” Fairfield University said in a statement regarding today’s action.

“The University has been planning for this litigation, and any difference has been allocated for and will not have material impact on the financial integrity of the University or its day-to-day operations in serving our students, faculty and the broader Fairfield Community. We will continue to make investments to enhance our facilities and our faculty to ensure that we provide a world-class education to our students.”

The lawsuit - and several other earlier ones - arise out of a three-phase program to feed, clothe, shelter and education street boys in Haiti. The program was designed by Douglas Perlitz, a 1992 Fairfield University graduate who the school chose as its 2002 commencement speaker.

 

 

 

 

 




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