Tawana Brawley begins making payments 26 years after rape report

[HiPointDem]

247. she was 16 when she was sued for defamation. not 25. she was 25 by the time the damages

were determined.

On October 6, 1988, the Abrams Grand Jury released its...report concluding that Tawana Brawley ("Brawley&quot had not been abducted...

Sometime thereafter, Steven A. Pagones ("Pagones&quot brought a defamation action against Alton H. Maddox, Jr., ("Maddox&quot C. Vernon Mason ("Mason&quot and Rev. Al Sharpton ("Sharpton&quot and also sought damages against Brawley. The claims in paragraphs 336 through 364 of the complaint against Brawley were based on her alleged responsibility for "the acts, statements, accusations spoken or committed by the defendants, Maddox, Mason and Sharpton" on her behalf...

Maddox, Mason and Sharpton all appeared in the action; however, Brawley failed to appear. On or about May 2, 1989 plaintiff moved for a default judgment against her...By decision dated May 6, 1991 Justice Beisner, noting that Brawley had attained majority, entered a default judgment against her on the issue of liability, reserving damages for future determination.

(See that? she was sued in 1989 but they *waited* until she was 18 to enter a default judgment because she didn't appear, & reserved the issue of damages.)

In establishing the amount of damages, the Court believes it would be inappropriate for the reasons noted to award a huge sum. On the other hand, Brawley is the one person most responsible for the false charges; therefore, the Court believes she should be held at least as accountable as Mr. Mason, the defendant held most responsible by the jury. Accordingly, the Court makes a punitive award in the amount of One Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($180,000.00) against Brawley in favor of Pagones.

S. BARRETT HICKMAN, J.S.C.

DATED:October , 1998

Carmel, New York

http://www.nycourts.gov/press/old_keep/brawley.htm