A juror who served on the New Hampshire trial of Kristy Gesse – a survivor of sexual abuse at the 1990s Saddleback Mountain retreat – told News 9 that the jury’s written verdict does not reflect what the panel actually intended.
Jury’s written award versus juror’s recollection
The jury awarded Gesse $16 million in damages against the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Saddleback retreat group. The verdict, as recorded, assigned the state responsibility for only 25 percent of that amount – $4 million – while the remaining $12 million was to be paid by the retreat’s owners, the late Peter and Beverly Tsetsilas.
According to the anonymous juror, the panel’s discussion and consensus were that the state should have paid the full $16 million. “That $16 million is what the jury wanted the state to pay Kristy Gesse. Not 25 percent of the $16 million,” the juror said, adding that the courtroom was empty when the verdict was read and everyone was “dumbfounded.”
Gesse’s appeal and broader implications
Gesse is now appealing the decision, arguing that the state must pay the entire amount. She says the juror’s comments bolster her position, noting that if the 25 percent figure were applied to other similar cases, the total liability could reach $64 million.
DHHS has filed a cross‑appeal, contending that Gesse’s claims are time‑barred under the statute of limitations. The department’s statement to News 9 confirmed that both sides have appealed to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, which has accepted the filings but has not yet set a briefing schedule.
Why the case matters to victims
Beyond the monetary dispute, Gesse emphasizes that the appeal is about accountability. She highlighted that the state’s own investigations had uncovered prior allegations of sexual assault against Peter Tsetsilas before she arrived at Saddleback. “It’s the mere fact that our judicial system allowed a known rapist to be listed on my verdict form and let the state shift 75 percent of the responsibility to a rapist they investigated,” Gesse said.
She also referenced another recent New Hampshire trial involving David Meehan at the Youth Development Center, where jurors similarly questioned the allocation of damages, suggesting a pattern of confusion in how courts assign responsibility in abuse cases.
Victim’s resolve
Regardless of the legal outcome, Gesse remains determined to keep the issue in the public eye. “I’m sad in the way that the state is treating victims. I will not go anywhere – I’ll write a book, start a blog, track people down,” she declared.
The case underscores ongoing challenges for survivors seeking full restitution and highlights the importance of clear jury instructions in complex civil litigation.
Original reporting: WMUR (Hearst) – local news — read the source article.
