DALLAS – A young woman who was sexually assaulted in 2011 by the owner of a popular pizza restaurant in Addison, Texas, has been awarded $21.43 million following a four-day bench trial heard in the 193rd District Court in Dallas.
Judge Carl Ginsberg issued the award late Thursday after hearing evidence that Ajredin “Danny” Deari, owner of co-defendant Pastazios Pizza in Addison, served the then-18-year-old victim multiple rounds of beer and whiskey at the restaurant under the pretext of a job interview.
The victim eventually passed out and awoke in a nearby hotel room while she was being sexually assaulted by Mr. Deari, who then fled the scene. Subsequent physical examinations determined that Mr. Deari had infected her with herpes during the assault.
The woman, who is identified as “Jane Doe” due to the nature of the assault and her age at that time, was in Judge Ginsberg’s courtroom throughout the trial.
“The judge called this the most offensive set of facts he had ever seen during his time on the bench,” says Dallas attorney Trey Crawford of Gruber Hurst Elrod Johansen Hail Shank, who represented the woman at trial with co-counsel Royce West of Dallas’ West & Associates L.L.P. and Gruber Hurst Elrod co-founder Michael Gruber.
Mr. Deari pleaded no contest to criminal charges and the next day filed for personal and business bankruptcy protection. Pastazios continues to operate under Chapter 11 status.
“This is certainly one of the largest bench trial judgments in Dallas County in recent memory,” says Mr. West. “This young woman has been waiting for justice for four long years, and she’s fought very hard to make sure that every business owner is aware of the consequences of their actions.”
Gruber Hurst Elrod attorney Brian Mason also represented the woman at trial.
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