In 2022, Beverly Quentin sued her paternal uncle Grannell E. Knox, alleging that on more than a dozen occasions from 1967-1970, he raped and/or otherwise sexually abused her while she was between 7 and 10 years old and he was between 17 and 19 years old. The lawsuit was brought under the 2019 so-called Child Victims Act (CPLR Section 214-g) which allows any person who was under the age of 18 when she or he was the victim of any sexual criminal conduct to sue the perpetrator for damages even though such a suit would otherwise be time-bared from a civil action.
The defendant testified that he never raped or otherwise sexually abused his niece; while plaintiff testified to over 20 instances of sexual abuse including oral sex and vaginal rape. The Westchester jury credited plaintiff’s testimony and rendered a verdict finding that there was in fact sexual contact between the plaintiff and the defendant when the plaintiff was under the age of 14.
The jury then awarded plaintiff pain and suffering damages in the sum of $4,000,000 ($3,000,000 past – 55 years, $1,000,000 future – 18 years) as well as punitive damages in the sum of $1,000,000.
In Quentin v. Knox (2d Dept. 2026), the damages awards have all been affirmed.
In the damages phase of the trial, the only testimony presented was that of plaintiff herself who by then had been married for 35 years with three well-adjusted children and was gainfully employed. Despite her seemingly successful adult life, plaintiff described her lost childhood and innocence because of the abuse. She said she’d had a lifetime of nightmares and that every day she wakes up and feels like she puts on a coat of armor to protect herself, and that this has been a heavy burden to carry.
Inside Information:
- Plaintiff did not tell anyone about the abuse until she told a college roommate about 10 years later. She said she’d been fearful of her own life after her uncle told her he’d bury her alive if she disclosed what had happened. She also said that defendant told her if she resisted or tried to avoid him he would similarly abuse her sister.
- Plaintiff did not seek any psychological counseling until after the lawsuit was brought.