Chippewa County jury awards over $10 million in abuse case

MONTEVIDEO — A Chippewa County jury has awarded a total of $10,199,000 in a civil lawsuit brought by a 42-year-old woman who alleged that her father had sexually abused her when she was a child.

The seven-member jury determined the award in favor of Dawne Schoep, of Washington, D.C., and against Jay Allen Schoep Sr., 62, of Maynard, following deliberations for two days last week. The deliberations followed testimony by Dawne Schoep and her sister, Laura Schoep, that they had been abused as children. Dawne Schoep testified that the abuse began when she was 4 years old and continued until she was 13.

Jay Schoep stipulated to three incidents of molestation against his daughter, but denied the other allegations of abuse through those years, according to his attorney, Kevin Stroup.

Dawne Schoep said she does not anticipate collecting the full award, or even a major portion of it. Her father does not have insurance or the resources. But she said it was important for her to bring the case forward in a public trial "to give a voice'' to herself and other victims of sexual abuse.

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