Published: December 20, 2011
Civil Jury Awards $150 Billion after Finding Man Responsible of Sexual Assault of 8-Year-Old Boy and Setting Boy on Fire; No Criminal Charges for This Act Have Been Brought against Serial Sex Offender
LA GRANGE, Texas - (BUSINESS WIRE) - In what is believed to be the largest jury verdict in a personal injury
case in the United States, a civil jury today awarded damages amounting
to more than $150 billion to the family of Robbie Middleton. The law
suit found Don Wilburn Collins responsible for sexually assaulting an
8-year-old boy more than 13 years ago and setting the boy on fire two
weeks after the molestation. The boy, Robbie Middleton, suffered
catastrophic burn wounds after he was doused with gasoline and set on
fire by Collins, which ultimately led to his death in April of 2011 at
age 20. To date, no criminal charges have been brought against Collins
for this heinous crime against Middleton. Collins is up for parole in
September of 2012 after being convicted of aggravated sexual assault of
another 8-year-old boy and failure to register as a sex offender. The
purpose for filing this lawsuit was not to obtain any money but rather
to focus attention on Montgomery County's failure to prosecute this
crime.
During the civil trial held this week held at The 155th
Judicial District Court, Fayette County, Texas, the firm of Sico, White,
Hoelscher & Braugh, L.L.P amassed evidence necessary to obtain damages
based on a liability finding against Don Wilburn Collins for the
assaults on Robbie Middleton. Damages amounting to $150 billion in
punitive damages and $370 million in actual damages have been awarded to
Middleton's family. All of the attorneys and litigation staff
represented Middleton pro bono.
"The fact that this boy was sexually assaulted then set on fire two
weeks later by the same person is horrific and unthinkable. The man
responsible for this monstrous crime has never been prosecuted for this
act, which ultimately led to Robbie's death," said Craig Sico, lead
counsel for plaintiff. "We need to remove this man from society and make
sure he never hurts another child again."
The crime took place in Montgomery County in a suburb outside of
Houston. To date, no substantive action has been taken by Montgomery
County to prosecute Collins, even though substantial evidence has been
established that he in fact set Middleton on fire with the intent to
kill him two weeks following the sexual assault in the woods near
Middleton's home. The only official action taken has been the opening of
a cold case file by the Montgomery County Attorney after receiving
subpoenas in this civil litigation requesting that the evidence be
disclosed to the Middleton family. Opening a cold case file legally
permits Montgomery County officials a process by which to deny sharing
their closed file with the Middleton family and the public. At this
time, the Middleton family does not know whether Montgomery County will
ever take official steps to prosecute Collins or will simply continue to
deny the Middleton family access to the file and to justice.
The cause number for this trial is 2009V-224. People are encouraged to
send letters, emails, or direct calls to Brett W. Ligon, Montgomery
County District Attorney, 207 W. Phillips, 2nd Floor, Conroe, Texas
77301, demanding that either the criminal file be turned over to the
proper officials or that the County prosecutes Collins, before another
child is hurt. If people are interested in providing charitable
contributions, please send them to Shriners Hospitals for Children c/o
The Middleton Family, 802 N. Carancahua, Suite 900, Corpus Christi, TX
78401.
The Middleton family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the
hard work of everyone involved in this case and for working without
charge: the trial team of Craig Sico, Clif Alexander, and Emily Reyes of
Sico, White, Hoelscher & Braugh, Ken Bigham of The Bigham Law Firm, with
litigation support and trial consulting services provided by Sean Hanko
of Res Ipsa.
More information about the case can be found here
(http://www.swbtrial.com/middleton/) in
addition to photos of the parties involved.
Sico,
White, Hoelscher & Braugh
Craig Sico, 361-793-9060
Lead
Counsel for Plaintiff
csico@swbtrial.com
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