A Delaware judge says much of the settlement money for a man who was sexually abused by a Catholic priest has been spent by family members on cars, jewelry and other property.
The man was one of more than 150 abuse victims who reached settlement with the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington in 2011.
The News Journal of Wilmington reports $347,901 that was put in a trust dwindled to barely $3,000 in five months. Court records show two relatives denied cheating their relative. They contend purchases were made with his consent and often for his benefit.
But Vice Chancellor Donald Parsons disagreed. He has removed them as trustees, and ruled the victim was entitled to recover $158,400 that the two spent on cars and house renovations.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
