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State Supreme Court reviews $38 million victim compensation verdict

3 weeks ago in Local

FILE - Youth Development Center. plaintiff David Meehan testifies as his intake photo, when he was 14 is displayed during his civil trial at Rockingham County Superior Court in Brentwood, N.H. on April 17, 2024. Photo: Associated Press/David Lane/Union Leader via AP, Pool

CONCORD,N.H.-The New Hampshire Supreme Court is considering a disputed verdict in a landmark lawsuit over abuse at the state’s youth detention center.

The review from the high court comes after jurors last year awarded $38 million to David Meehan, who alleges he was repeatedly raped and beaten at the Youth Development Center in Manchester back in the 1990s.

The state wants to reduce the award under a law capping payouts at $475,000 per incident, while Meehan’s attorneys argue this violates his constitutional rights.

The state claims mismanagement of the facility is a single incident, which could limit payouts to others.

Thursday’s arguments came one day after Stephen Murphy, one of the men Meehan accused of abuse was acquitted on three charges of sexual assault. As for the remaining five abuse charges jurors were unable to reach a verdict.

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