What a $5 Million Payout in a Decades-Old Catholic School Sexual Abuse Case Means for Claimants

Jurors Found in the Plaintiff’s Favor in the First Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against the Catholic Church to Go to Trial in NJ. If You’re Wondering if You Have a Claim, Our Attorneys Are Here to Help.

Students who have been sexually abused in New Jersey schools have the right to hold those responsible for perpetrating or enabling abuse accountable. As a recent jury award against both The Order of St. Benedict of New Jersey and a former Catholic school employee illustrates, survivors of Catholic school sexual abuse may be entitled to significant monetary damages through a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit.

Anyone who was sexually abused during his time as a student at Delbarton School in Morris County, NJ, should contact Drazin & Warshaw immediately for a free consultation. As experienced school sexual abuse lawyers, we approach these cases with the compassion clients deserve and dedication to pursuing justice for every survivor of abuse. 

Even if decades have passed since you suffered this abuse at the hands of clergy members or other Catholic school employees, it may not be too late to take legal action. 

A Historic Case and a Significant Jury Award

On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, a jury announced the findings of its deliberation in the first clergy sexual abuse lawsuit to go to trial in New Jersey against the Catholic Church, Patch reported. Not only did jurors find in favor of the plaintiff, but they awarded him $5 million in compensatory damages. The damages sought included physical injury, emotional injury, depression, PTSD, and loss of the plaintiff’s Catholic faith. 

Abuse That Spanned Decades at Delbarton School

The case was filed by a plaintiff identified as T.M., now in his 60s, who was sexually abused during his time as a Delbarton School student in the 1970s. T.M. was 15 years old when Father Richard Lott, a Benedictine monk, teacher, and supervisor of student workers in the all-boys’ preparatory school’s maintenance department, began abusing him. Per reports, the plaintiff said that the clergyman perpetrated the abuse in his secluded residence on campus, grooming him and other boys with pornography, alcohol, and drugs. Despite eventually being fired from the school for “unlawful absence,” Lott is still ordained as a priest to this day. 

Although other administrators at the school reportedly knew the defendant was giving “illicit substances” to students, no action was taken in response at that time. T.M. reported the abuse, but his complaint was subsequently destroyed, and the authorities were never contacted, according to reports. All told, at least 30 student allegations of sexual abuse had been reported to the school pertaining to incidents dated between 1968 and 1999.

Fault Found on Both the Perpetrator and the Church Affiliate

Following two weeks of testimony, the jurors in T.M.’s case found Lott himself 35% liable for the plaintiff’s damages and The Order of St. Benedict of New Jersey 65% liable. T.M.’s claim established that the church affiliate contributed to the abuse by providing Lott an increasing degree of freedom, independence, and authority, which he in turn used to groom and abuse the plaintiff. As an employee of The Order of St. Benedict of New Jersey, he could have been subjected to control and supervision that the religious organization failed to impose. 

What This $5 Million Payout Means for Victims of Abuse at Delbarton School 

T.M.’s case may have been the first of its kind to proceed to trial in New Jersey, but it’s far from the last Catholic Church sex abuse claim that must be resolved. There are currently nearly 40 abuse cases pending against Delbarton School and its church affiliates, as Patch reported. 

If you, like T.M. and dozens of other students, suffered abuse on the campus of Delbarton School, you don’t have to be afraid to come forward. Those who were once in a position of authority over you, grooming and abusing you, or silencing you by intentionally concealing reports of mistreatment, are no longer in control. This jury award proves that it’s possible for survivors of abuse who come forward, even decades later, to be believed and for justice to finally be dispensed. 

The Dedicated, Compassionate School Abuse Attorneys at Drazin & Warshaw Fight for Survivors of Grooming and Sexual Abuse 

Sexual abuse is unacceptable, particularly when the victims are children. When schools or religious organizations allow the abuse to persist for decades without intervening, or they conceal allegations against their employees, they can bear a great deal of liability, as this jury award illustrates. Sometimes these organizations are simultaneously giving those same workers greater freedom, and expanding their ability to prey on victims, while covering up reports of prior abuse. 

Taking legal action is often the only way to hold these influential organizations accountable for the significant role they play in enabling abuse of vulnerable victims. 

The highly experienced legal team at Drazin & Warshaw knows how to build strong, effective claims against both individual perpetrators of abuse and the institutions that enable them. We’re ready to guide survivors of childhood abuse through the legal process without risks or upfront costs and with a demonstrated commitment to standing beside them every step of the way. 

Don’t Wait to Consult an Experienced Abuse Attorney About Your Rights

Survivors of child sexual abuse often worry that it’s too late to take legal action, but that may not be the case under current state law. 

Under New Jersey’s Child Victims Act, which went into effect in 2019, it may still be possible to initiate a claim for sexual abuse compensation against Delbarton School or another Catholic organization today, even if the abuse occurred decades ago. Generally, survivors of child sexual abuse under this law have until their 55th birthday to take civil legal action or, in the case of injuries discovered later, seven years from the date of that discovery. 

Through a confidential consultation with a compassionate sexual abuse lawyer at Drazin & Warshaw, you can explore what options may be available to you. This case evaluation is free, without obligation, and handled with the utmost professionalism. Having supported survivors of sexual abuse in numerous legal actions, we understand the courage it takes to come forward, and we’re devoted to providing the support you need to take the next step. 

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.