California IN BRIEF : SAN DIEGO : $400,000 Awarded in Molestation

A jury late Tuesday found the local and national chapters of the Boy Scouts of America negligent and awarded $400,000 in damages to a Cub Scout who was molested on an outing. The Superior Court jury issued its verdict on behalf of an 8-year-old El Cajon boy molested by his scoutmaster who is now in prison. But it was unclear how much money the boy might actually receive since the jury determined that Jerry Frazier, 21, serving a 19-year state prison term, was 90% negligent for his role in the psychological injuries to the boy. Frazier, who had an earlier judgment entered against him, is insolvent. The jury found that the local chapter of the Boy Scouts was 5% negligent, and the national chapter 3% negligent. The First United Methodist Church in El Cajon, where the troop originated, was found to be 1% negligent and the verdict forms listed “other persons” as 1% negligent.