MANCHESTER, N.H.- A Merrimack County jury has awarded $16 million to Kristy Gesse in her suit against the state of New Hampshire, a Deerfield group home and its owners over the abuse she suffered as a teen.
On Tuesday the jury ruled that the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services was negligent, and responsible for 25% of the abuse Gesse suffered during her childhood, saying it breached its duty to take care of her during her teen years after she was placed at the Saddleback group home and that the agency’s conduct was a substantial factor in causing her injuries.
They jury also ended up rejecting the state’s claim that the case was filed too late.
Jurors also assigned 70% of the blame to Peter and Beverly Tsetsilas, the couple that operated the group home and 5% to the Saddleback back home, however it should be noted that the Tsetsilas have since passed away.
Out of the decision the State will only be liable for $4 million in damages, and because of that Gesse’s lawyers say they plan to appeal the portion of the verdict which assigned the majority of the fault to the Tsetsilas and the Saddleback estate rather than the state.
