Cap

Jury Awards $4 Million in Damages, Exceeding Cap, in High-Stakes Verdict — Appeal Looms Over Dual Jury Decision

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In a recent court decision that has sparked a complex legal debate, a jury was directed by Judge Tunheim to weigh several critical factors in determining the compensation due for past and future damages. These factors included the deceased’s previous earnings, prospective financial potential, and the reasonable costs for funeral and burial services. Additionally, considerations were made for the loss of time, guidance, and comfort caused by the death. In his guidance to the jury, Tunheim emphasized that the decision should not aim to punish the defendant, nor should it factor in the grief or … Read more

Seeking Justice: NH Supreme Court Asked to Review Cap on $38 Million Abuse Case Award

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CONCORD, N.H. — Following a jury ruling that awarded David Meehan $38 million for suffering repeated abuse at a state-run center, his lawyers are now seeking intervention from the New Hampshire Supreme Court. This legal escalation comes in response to a judge’s order that significantly reduced the payout to $475,000, adhering to the state’s statutory cap on damages. Meehan’s attorneys argue this cap undermines the severity of the sustained abuse and are pushing for a judicial review to challenge its constitutionality. David Meehan was subjected to severe mistreatment, including rape and physical assault, by staff … Read more

New Hampshire Judge Slashes $38 Million Abuse Verdict to $475,000, Citing State Cap, Amid Lawyer Calls for Retrial

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MANCHESTER, N.H. — A legal battle involving a multi-million dollar abuse claim against the Youth Development Center has taken a significant turn. Judge Andrew Schulman has preliminarily slashed the initially granted $38 million award to the statutory limit of $475,000 in the case concerning David Meehan, following state guidelines on damages. In a dramatic courtroom decision earlier this year, a jury awarded Meehan a substantial $38 million for his claims of abuse at the hands of staff members at the Youth Development Center. However, a critical point in the jury’s decision became a major focus … Read more

New Hampshire Seeks to Cap $38 Million Abuse Verdict to $475,000, Sparking Legal and Public Outcry

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Manchester, NH — In a landmark case that spotlighted alleged abuses at a New Hampshire youth detention center, a jury awarded David Meehan $38 million for the traumas he said he suffered in the 1990s. However, the state Attorney General’s office announced plans to limit the compensation to $475,000, citing a governmental immunity statute. Meehan, now 42, asserted that while he was at the Youth Development Center (YDC) from December 1995 to January 1999, he was repeatedly raped, beaten, and isolated. His case is the first among potentially 1,500, alleging similar abuses spanning decades at … Read more