Professional Negligence Law Reporter

St. Louis v. Perlitz, 3:13-cv-01132 (RNC) (D. Conn. Jan. 25, 2019).

For approximately 10 years, Douglas Perlitz served as the director of Project Pierre Toussaint (PPT), a school that provided services to the poorest students of Haiti. Fairfield University raised money for PPT, establishing the Haiti Fund, Inc., a Connecticut corporation organized to manage PPT. During his time as director, Perlitz allegedly molested, raped, provided intoxicating substances to, and demanded sexual favors from more than 150 Haitian boys, threatening to withhold food and shelter if the boys did not comply.

The alleged victims sued Fairfield University and others involved in PPT, including the Haiti Fund; the Society of Jesus of New England; priest Paul Carrier; board member Hope Carter; American Association, USA; and the Order of Malta, which allegedly hired Perlitz and provided initial funding for PPT. Suit alleged that the defendants assisted Perlitz by providing him the means to travel to and stay in Haiti and operate PPT in the manner in which he did. The plaintiffs asserted that the defendants were liable for negligent hiring and retention, inadequate supervision, breach of fiduciary duty, and failure to provide appropriate guidelines and supervision for PPT’s operation.

The plaintiffs alleged that among other things, although Perlitz was observed in his room with minor boys, the university and the Haiti Fund failed to implement any safeguards. The parties settled for $60 million. As part of the settlement agreement, the lawsuits were converted to a class action lawsuit and settlement.

Plaintiff counsel: Mitchell Garabedian and William Gordon, both of Boston; AAJ members Paul J. Hanly Jr., Jayne Conroy, and Andrea Bierstein, all of New York City; and AAJ members Steven J. Errante and Marisa A. Bellair, both of New Haven, Conn.