Landmark Case In U.S. Civil Court On Rape By U.S. Military In Japan Eleven Years Ago

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Landmark-Case-In-U-S-Civi-by-Ann-Wright-130524-986.html



Catherine Fisher with a picture of her attacker. Picture: Gran Ole

Landmark Case In U.S. Civil Court On Rape By U.S. Military In Japan Eleven Years Ago
OpEdNews Op Eds 5/24/2013 at 12:05:07
By Ann Wright

In a landmark case, on September 6, 2012, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Circuit Court Judge gave standing to an Australian woman to collect a Japanese civil judgment against a former US Navy sailor for raping her in Japan 11 years ago.

A civil judgment by a Tokyo court in 2004 ordered sailor Bloke T. Deans to pay 3 million yen in damages to Catherine Jane Fisher as compensation for emotional and physical harm from the rape. However, despite knowing of the Japanese court case against Deans, the US Navy issued Deans an honorable discharge and allowed him to leave Japan without informing either the Japanese court or Ms. Fisher.

For 10 years, Ms. Fisher searched for Mr. Deans and in 2011 she finally located him in Milwaukee. In May, 2012, Ms. Fisher filed a suit against Mr. Deans in Milwaukee Circuit Court.

Ms. Fisher's journey to hold her rapist accountable has been shown in the Australian TV documentary "The Power of One" on the national "60 Minutes" series.