Victim awarded $6.4 million in Catholic school sex abuse case

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on July 6, 2012 @ 5:04 am (Updated: 6:16 am - 7/6/12 )

A $6.4 million judgment has been awarded in a local Catholic Sex Abuse Case.

The jury found Thursday an unnamed victim had been sexually abused weekly between 1961 and 1964 by Daniel Adamson, a former teacher and principal at Saint Benedict School in Seattle.

The victim's attorney says Adamson used a train set to lure young boys down into the school basement.

In court documents, the victim said, "I just gave up everything. I gave my clothes away, I dropped out of school. I joined the Marines to escape, ended up in Vietnam, where I served 13 months. Came back to St. Benedict's and the abuser was still there."

The jury found that the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate ignored the student's sex abuse complaints.

"It was extremely difficult for him to come forward but this is vindication for him. He came forward not just for himself, but because there are a lot of other people out there who were abused by this same teacher who haven't come forward," said the victim's attorney, Jason Amala.

Adamson died in the mid-1970s while he was still principal of the school.

The jury's overall $8 million verdict was reduced to $6.4 million because jurors found the archdiocese and another religious order that staffed the school to be 20 percent responsible. The plaintiff settled with the archdiocese for $500,000.

The verdict is believed to be largest ever against the Catholic Church in Washington state.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
Straight from the newsdesk.
More Local News
Top Stories
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (5)


  • Add A Comment

  • myopinion wrote...
    Really
    July 6, 2012 6:54 am
    This clown must have needed the money.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MG345 wrote...
    Clown?
    July 6, 2012 7:12 am
    Is he a clown because he was sexually abused or because he was a veteran or what? I hope you are fishing with that comment, because if not, you are disgusting.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • myopinion wrote...
    This Guy
    July 6, 2012 9:57 am
    is over 50 and just now is saying well after the supposed offender is dead does he start crying, spare me. I find it hard to prosecute anyone that is dead. Sometimes it is just simpler to pay uot than litgate. You are the disgusing one idiot man.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 2112 wrote...
    I have to admit...
    July 6, 2012 5:43 pm
    I wonder how they came up with compelling evidence other than his word? It was over 50 years ago. Were there witnesses that came forward?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }