Paula Liblick
NEW YORK – New York State Court of Claims Judge Stephen Mignano awarded the brother of a severely developmentally disabled woman $2.5 million and found the state liable for “negligence and gross negligence” in the sexual attacks on the woman.
Paula Liblick, 61, with the mental age of a one-year-old, was raped several times while living in state-run group homes. The perpetrators were never identified. She died two years later.
The catch, though, is that the state placed a $1.7 million lien seeking to be reimbursed for the years Ms. Liblick was institutionalized in state-run facilities.
Her brother, William Liblick of Sullivan County, said that the judge “made certain that justice was served” for his sister.
“The State of New York put me through a horrific trial where they basically said that they are not responsible for the actions of their employees and the state can never be held accountable for anything that happens,” he said. “They are sending a strong message that they don’t care what happens to people in group homes and day programs.”
Liblick has been pushing the state legislature to pass a bill named for his sister – Paula’s Law – that would require surveillance cameras be placed outside state-run group homes to monitor the comings and goings as a preventive measure to stop unauthorized people from entering the facility and assist police with those who do.
