Jeff Pringle, a survivor under New York’s Child Victims Act (CVA), was awarded a $30 million verdict against Paul Caillaud, a former Boy Scouts of America (BSA) camp “doctor” who sexually abused him in the mid-1980s at Forestburg Scout Reservation in Sullivan County, New York. This verdict is believed to be the first CVA verdict in the county since the law’s passage five years ago.
A History of Abuse and Betrayal
In 1985, Mr. Pringle was just sixteen years old when he worked as a staff member at the summer camp. Seeking treatment for an ear infection and chest pains, he turned to Mr. Caillaud, who was presented as the camp’s doctor. Unbeknownst to Mr. Pringle and others, Mr. Caillaud was not a licensed physician — in fact, he was a newly minted lawyer. Despite his lack of medical credentials, the camp allowed him to act in this trusted role.
According to Mr. Pringle’s testimony, which the court found “consistent, detailed, and believable,” Mr. Caillaud lured him to the camp health lodge, drugged him, and sexually abused him on two consecutive nights. Mr. Pringle’s mother, a registered nurse, realized the truth when he told her about the incidents, and she reported Mr. Caillaud to law enforcement.
Mr. Caillaud was arrested and charged with seventeen felonies, including unauthorized practice of medicine and assault. He ultimately pleaded guilty to four counts of unauthorized practice of medicine but served no prison time, instead receiving five years of probation. Remarkably, he continued practicing law in Florida, rising to the position of general counsel at RE/MAX FIRST.
With the passage of the Child Victims Act, Pringle filed a civil lawsuit in 2021, represented by Benjamin Watson, Vincent Nappo, and Jason Amala of Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC (PCVA Law). The court found Mr. Caillaud liable on all counts, awarding Mr. Pringle:
- $7.5 million for past pain and suffering
- $2.5 million for future pain and suffering
- $20 million in punitive damages
The court recognized the devastating toll the abuse had taken, noting Mr. Pringle’s lifelong struggles with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and PTSD.
A Message to Institutions and Survivors
“This verdict is a major victory for Mr. Pringle and for survivors across New York,” said PCVA attorney Benjamin Watson. “It sends a clear message to any individual or institution that believes they can get away with the sexual abuse of children: the law will hold you accountable.”
Mr. Pringle’s legal battle is not over. He is also pursuing claims in the Boy Scouts of America’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, seeking accountability for the BSA’s role in enabling Caillaud’s access to young campers.
