By James Halpin | Citizen’s Voice | Jul 15, 2024
A Luzerne County judge has issued a more than $5 million verdict against a former caregiver at a Kingston facility who is serving up to 19 years in prison for sexually abusing a nonverbal mentally challenged patient.
Andrew Dula, 61, of Shickshinny, was previously convicted of institutional sexual assault and related charges for molesting a 36-year-old woman in 2016.
Following a nonjury trial last week, Luzerne County Judge Richard M. Hughes III rendered a $5.25 million verdict against Dula. The verdict included $2.25 million for the victim’s pain and suffering as well as $3 million in punitive damages.
The victim and her guardian were represented at trial by the Wilkes-Barre law firm Anzalone & Doyle Trial Lawyers.
Attorney Patrick Doyle said the victim previously reached a confidential settlement with the Institute for Human Resources and Services.
“Mr. Dula has now been held responsible in criminal court and civilly for the heinous acts be committed against a defenseless victim,” Doyle said.
During Dula’s criminal trial in 2019, Dula’s former co-workers testified to strange occurrences at the home, including observing Dula walking around in his long johns and combing his hair while singing a love song featuring the victim’s name.
In one instance, a co-worker heard the victim, who has the mental capacity of a small child, scream and went into the room to find the woman naked from the waist down, her legs in Dula’s arms.
Dula, who had been previously warned about unnecessary diaper changes, had nevertheless removed a clean diaper from the woman, according to prosecutors.
During questioning, Dula admitted molesting the woman because he was a virgin without a girlfriend and said he knew his conduct was “morally not right” and “inexcusable.”
“That’s why I didn’t have sex with her,” Dula said. “If I had sex with her that’s way too wrong.”
After being convicted of eight sexual offenses at trial in June 2019, Dula was sentenced to 9¼ to 19 years in prison.
Dula, who is now required to register as a sex offender for life, is serving his time at State Correctional Institution at Mercer.
