CALIFORNIA
Monterey County Herald
By VIRGINIA HENNESSEY
Herald Staff Writer
Posted: 06/14/2013
It won’t likely put a dime in his pocket, but the man molested as a teenager by fugitive priest Antonio Cortes won an emotional victory on Friday.
Judge Thomas Wills sanctioned Cortes for failing to appear for the second time in a lawsuit filed by “John Doe,” striking the priest’s original answer that denied the allegations in the case.
The ruling wipes the slate clean, as though Cortes never responded to the lawsuit, and clears the way for the victim to claim a default judgment and damages against the priest, who is believed to be in Mexico.
The plaintiff’s attorney, Chris Lavorato, said he will ask Wills to award his client between $5 million and $10 million within the next 60 days.
Lavorato said he realizes the likelihood his client will see any of the money is nil, but it would hang a judgment over Cortes’ head and help heal a wound in the victim’s heart.
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