Record-Breaking $485M Jury Award in Foster Care Sexual Assault Case
A judge has awarded an 8-year-old girl $485 million in a lawsuit against 66-year-old Clarence Garcia, a former foster parent in New Mexico, for sexually abusing her. The lawsuit also names Acadia Health and its subsidiaries, claiming they knew about Garcia's prior charges of sexual abuse but still placed the girl in his care. Garcia has pleaded guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and violated his probation, potentially facing up to 42 years in prison. The money will be paid out by Acadia Health.