Childhood Sexual Assault Victim gets $1.8M
April 2011
A woman, known in this case as Jane Doe, was sexually assaulted when she was just seven years old by a man who was dating her mother. Jane Doe filed claims in Barnstable Superior Court against Daniel Snodgrass, a commercial airline pilot at the time of the assault, for sexual assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
After being indicted for rape, Daniel Snodgrass fled Massachusetts on the run from the law, and remained at large for about 5 years. Due to extraordinary efforts from the Barnstable Sheriff's Department, Snodgrass was finally arrested in Florida. He was brought back to MA, pleaded guilty to the criminal charges and was handed a prison sentence for his crimes.
The Court entered summary judgment on the liability part of the case due to Snodgrass' guilty plea and admission of guilt during his civil deposition.
Christopher Parkerson of Campbell Trial Lawyers in Boston represented Jane Doe in this case. At the damages hearing, Jane Doe, now 21, testified to the pain and suffering caused by the assault. Doe’s mother as well as Dr. John Daignault also talked about the psychological trauma suffered by Doe as a result of the attacks.
The Court awarded $1.8 million in damages.
