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NJ Man Awarded $15M by  Fed Jury in Rabbi Sex Abuse Case

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Rabbi Daniel Greer of the Yeshiva of New Haven has been accused of sexually assaulting a teenager.

On Thursday, May 18, $15 million was awarded to a New Jersey man by a federal jury, after he accused a renowned Connecticut rabbi of molesting and raping him multiple times throughout his teenage years.

On Thursday, Rabbi Daniel Greer and his Yeshiva of New Haven were ordered by the court to pay Eliyahu Mirlis compensatory damages. In a lawsuit, Mirlis claimed that he was sexually abused by Greer for three years, between 2001 and 2005, when Mirlis was attending the Jewish boarding school at which Greer was the principal.

Greer denies these allegations and no criminal charges have been brought against him. 

In sexual abuse cases, the names of victims are usually kept anonymous, but in the case Mirlis’ attorney informed the press that he wanted to come forward.

In a statement, Mirlis’ lawyer Antonio Ponvert III said, “My client came forward showing great courage to right a wrong and to protect other children. Child abuse in all its forms must end and this is a step in that process.”

According to the lawsuit, the alleged abuse occurred in multiple locations, including Greer’s home as well as on school property. 

On Thursday, Greer’s attorney, William Ward, said that he and his client were “extremely disappointed” with the court’s ruling and plan to file an appeal.

According to the New Haven Register, state law entitles the plaintiff to one-third of the verdict in punitive damages, which in this case means $5 million for Mirlis.

The Associated Press reports, “Greer has testified before the state legislature several times on a variety of issues, including opposing same-sex unions in 2002 before the state approved same-sex marriage. He also is a former member of the New Haven police commissioners’ board and a past chairman of the New Haven Redevelopment Agency.”

By Hannah Hayes

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