$500K to each boy in Haiti sex cases

A file photo of Douglas Perlitz, a graduate of Fairfield University, from a 2004 interview at the school. On Wednesday August 18, 2010, Douglas Perlitz pleaded guilty to one charge involving the sexual abuse of a minor boy. Perlitz will be sentenced on Dec. 21. less A file photo of Douglas Perlitz, a graduate of Fairfield University, from a 2004 interview at the school. On Wednesday August 18, 2010, Douglas Perlitz pleaded guilty to one charge involving the sexual abuse of ... more Photo: Jeff Bustraan, ST Photo: Jeff Bustraan, ST Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close $500K to each boy in Haiti sex cases 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

HARTFORD -- Two dozen Haitian boys will each receive $500,000 in a settlement on their claims of sexual abuse at the hands of Douglas Perlitz while enrolled in Project Pierre Toussaint, a residential trade school in Cap-Haitien.

"This settlement will be a life-changing event for them," said Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston lawyer who headed the legal team representing the boys. "It will allow them to feed themselves and their families, buy clothes, sleep with a roof over their heads and obtain medical treatment."

Garabedian said arrangements have been made to provide financial counseling, but the money will be distributed immediately in a lump sum.

The payments are part of a $12 million settlement reached Friday with Fairfield University; the Rev. Paul Carrier, a former university chaplain and officer of the Haiti Fund, the now defunct fund-raising arm of Project Pierre Toussaint; the Society of Jesus of New England, the Jesuit order to which Carrier belonged; the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, American Association, USA, of which Carrier was Magistral chaplain; and Hope Carter, a member of the board of directors of the Haiti Fund, a New Canaan philanthropist and Malta member.

The defendants were accused of promoting and raising money for Perlitz's program but failing to properly supervise him.

While those defendants paid the settlement, most of which came from insurance policies, the settlement also ended actions against the defunct Haiti Fund, 12 unnamed individuals and Perlitz, who is serving a nearly 20-year federal prison term for traveling overseas to engage in sex with a minor.

The settlement does not constitute an admission of liability, the defendants said.

"This case was about accountability," Garabedian said. "The fact they paid $12 million speaks volumes."

The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, American Association, USA released the following statement Monday: "The American Association participated in a settlement of the claims arising out of serious misconduct at a school in Haiti to which the Association had made donations.

"The Association was accused of insufficient or flawed oversight of the school, notwithstanding the fact that it had no control over or involvement in its management. While the allegations against the Association were untrue, participation in the settlement was in the best interests of the Association because of the substantial expense and extensive leadership time and attention required by the defense of the cases as well as uncertainty inherent in litigation ... We pray for all involved in these cases and for all who suffer from injustice and violence in our world."