$4M Award Against Jehovah's Witnesses Upheld

In J.W. v, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., (CA App,, Dec. 10, 2018), a California state appellate court upheld an award of over $4 million to a girl who, when she was ten years old, was sexually abused by an elder of the Jehovah's Witness church.  The church was charged, among other things, with negligent supervision and failure to warn. The award came after a court struck defendant's answer as a sanction for failing to comply with discovery orders.