Attorneys for David Meehan, who won a $38 million lawsuit over abuse at a New Hampshire youth detention center, are requesting a hearing after learning that the award could be reduced to $475,000 due to a state law cap on claims against the government. The jury foreperson expressed dismay over the potential reduction and stated that if they had known about the cap, their outcome would have reflected it. Meehan, now 42, alleged that he was repeatedly raped, beaten, and held in solitary confinement as a teenager at the Youth Development Center in Manchester. He went to the police in 2017 and filed the lawsuit three years later.
During the trial, Meehan’s attorneys accused the state of fostering a culture of abuse at the youth detention center, with witnesses including former staff members who faced resistance when raising concerns, a resident who described being gang-raped, and a teacher who noted suspicious bruises on Meehan and other boys. The state argued that it was not liable for the actions of rogue employees and claimed that Meehan waited too long to sue. Witnesses for the state included Meehan’s father, who questioned his son’s credibility, as well as a psychiatrist who diagnosed Meehan with bipolar disorder instead of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The jury found in Meehan’s favor and awarded $18 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in enhanced damages. However, the attorney general’s office indicated that the award would be reduced to the $475,000 cap per incident. Meehan’s attorneys are now requesting a hearing to address the discrepancy and ensure that Meehan receives a fair settlement. The lawsuit has prompted further legal action, with 11 former state workers arrested and over 1,100 former residents of the Youth Development Center filing lawsuits alleging abuse spanning decades.
The trial highlighted a dynamic where the attorney general’s office defended the state against civil lawsuits while also prosecuting suspected perpetrators in criminal cases related to the abuse at the youth detention center. The case brought attention to systemic issues of brutality, corruption, and a code of silence within the facility. Witnesses testified to the pervasive abuse experienced by residents and the challenges faced by those trying to report or investigate incidents. The outcome of the hearing could determine the final amount awarded to Meehan and set a precedent for future cases against the state.
