Delbarton school victim awarded $5 million in historic clergy sex abuse trial

A former student has been awarded $5 million by a jury after alleging he was sexually abused years ago at the prestigious Delbarton School in New Jersey.

The ruling, which came on Wednesday, followed a five-week trial in Morris County Superior Court. The plaintiff, identified as T.M., claimed that a monk from the Benedictine Catholic institution sexually assaulted him on New Year’s Eve in 1975.

Located in affluent Morristown, where annual tuition is $48,725, Delbarton expressed being “extremely disappointed in the verdict” through a statement.

In addition to demonstrating “genuine compassion for any victim of abuse,” Delbarton officials asserted that they “do not consider the damages awarded in this case to be just or reasonable.”

“Significantly, the jury unanimously concluded that St. Mary’s Abbey and Delbarton School did not infringe upon the New Jersey Child Sex Abuse Act,” stated a letter authored by St. Mary’s Abbot Johnathan Licari and Delbarton headmaster, Father Michael Tidd. “This means we were unaware of the alleged abuse, and there was no intentional wrongdoing.”

The jury is scheduled to reconvene next week to discuss punitive damages in T.M.’s case.

This lawsuit marks the first Catholic clergy sexual abuse case to go to trial under a 2019 New Jersey legislative measure that allows the filing of historical child sex abuse claims, and it is the first among nearly 40 pending clergy abuse cases against Delbarton to reach a verdict.

The allegations include claims against multiple clergy members at the school, including a former headmaster.

Most recently, a 2021 lawsuit from another former student alleges he was raped and abused over 150 times by three monks while in seventh grade during the 1970s at Delbarton.

Mark Crawford, New Jersey director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, remarked, to NorthJersey.com, “I am very proud that the victim stood his ground and chose to share his story.”

“This outcome should send a strong message to all institutions about the necessity of taking allegations seriously,” Crawford stated. “Survivors should feel empowered to speak out and tell their truth, as justice can prevail.”

A new grand jury inquiry is expected to further investigate whether Auxiliary Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, a former high-ranking leader at Delbarton and a potential candidate for cardinal, played a role in covering up reported accusations during his leadership at the school, state leaders, advocates, and attorneys representing several Delbarton accusers claim.

Delbarton has an impressive roster of notable alumni, including “Game of Thrones” actor Peter Dinklage, Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, and the sons of former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Representatives for T.M. have chosen not to comment.