Personal Injury Law

Jaycee Dugard Expected to Receive $20 Million Personal Injury Settlement

State lawmakers have approved legislation to pay a $20 million personal injury settlement to Jaycee Dugard, the 30-year-old woman who was kidnapped from her school bus stop at age 11 and held captive for 18 years until she was discovered last year. She was repeatedly raped by and bore two children with her abductor Phillip Garrido. Her daughters are now ages 15 and 12. The girls are seeking injuries to minor damages for their physical, emotional, and psychological injuries.

According to Forbes.com, an official analysis noted that in addition the pain and suffering caused by the kidnapping, years in captivity, and sexual assaults, Dugard, as well as her daughters, will likely require counseling for lives. Also, Dugard was never able to finish school and has no work experience. Her girls have never been to school and had lived in isolation in Garrido?s backyard.

Garrido, a registered sex offender, is now behind bars awaiting his criminal trial. Although the state parole system had been actively monitoring him since 1999, over the years, the Department of Corrections has missed several opportunities that might have allowed them to find and rescue Dugard and her girls. In 2006, a neighbor of Garrido?s called 911 to report that there were kids living in tents in his backyard. A deputy went to Garrido?s residence but only gave him a warning about code violations.

Meantime, Dugard?s mother Terry Probyn has had to live with the loss that comes with having your child disappear, not know what happened to her, and then spend years without her while missing out on all the experiences that come with being her mother. She also has filed a claim with the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board.

While the Corrections Department typically is immune from personal injury claims, the state?s Department of Justice recommended the settlement, which Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has said that he will sign and approve.

Jaycee Dugard And Her $20 Million Settlement, Forbes.com, July 2, 2010

Schwarzenegger backs $20-million settlement for Jaycee Dugard, Los Angeles Times, July 1, 2010

Dugard, girls and mom file claims against state, SF Gate, February 24, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Jaycee Dugard Abduction Timeline, ABC News 10

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on July 02, 2010 (boomark / email).