FAIRFIELD (CT)
The Patch
January 25, 2019
By Vincent Salzo
The settlement is in connection to sexual abuse claims against a Fairfield University graduate’s charity in Haiti.
Fairfield University, along with four other defendants, have reached a $60-million settlement in connection to sexual abuse claims against a Fairfield University graduate’s charity in Haiti. Douglas Perlitz established the charity known as “Project Pierre Toussaint” in 1997 aimed at helping underprivileged young men in Haiti.
“Many of our community members were inspired by this effort and gave generously to support it,” according to a joint statement from Frank J. Carroll III, chairman of the board of trustees, and Mark Nemec, president of Fairfield University, to the campus community announcing the settlement. “Eleven years later, in 2008, the University learned that Mr. Perlitz had grossly abused his position, sexually assaulting some of the young men in his care.
“Though some members of our community donated time and resources to the project. Fairfield University played no role in the management or governance of Project Pierre Toussaint. The University was not aware of Mr. Perlitz’s crimes before they were publicly reported. Regardless, our community was shaken by these revelations.”
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