Plaintiff in line for monetary award

 

A Simpsonville man walked out of the Oconee Courthouse today, having been told by the judge that he can expect to receive a monetary award to settle his civil suit alleging sexual abuse.  The case, filed under the pseudonym John Doe, alleges that Richard Trey Gardner abused him beginning when the student was in the 7th grade at Walhalla Middle School.  That student is today a 27-year old businessman.  He told Judge Cordell Maddox that what civil suit defendant Richard Trey Gardner did to him left him physically and emotionally damaged.  The case to consider damages was in front of Maddox today, without Gardner present.  Admitted as an exhibit was a letter from Gardner, saying he did not wish to be part of today’s proceeding.   Maddox said he regretted that Gardner’s victim did not have the chance to confront his abuser in an open courtroom.  In 2013 Gardner was sent to prison for 20 years for having sexually abused two Walhalla students.  Attorney Joe Mooneyham of Greenville, representing the plaintiff in today’s proceeding, told Maddox that, in all, three lawsuits were filed against Gardner.