Civil Jury Awards $150 Billion after Finding Man Responsible of Sexual Assault of 8-Year-Old Boy and Setting Boy on Fire; No Criminal Charges for This Act Have Been Brought against Serial Sex Offender

LA GRANGE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In what is believed to be the largest jury verdict in a personal injury case in the United States, a civil jury today awarded damages amounting to more than $150 billion to the family of Robbie Middleton. The law suit found Don Wilburn Collins responsible for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old boy more than 13 years ago and setting the boy on fire two weeks after the molestation. The boy, Robbie Middleton, suffered catastrophic burn wounds after he was doused with gasoline and set on fire by Collins, which ultimately led to his death in April of 2011 at age 20. To date, no criminal charges have been brought against Collins for this heinous crime against Middleton. Collins is up for parole in September of 2012 after being convicted of aggravated sexual assault of another 8-year-old boy and failure to register as a sex offender. The purpose for filing this lawsuit was not to obtain any money but rather to focus attention on Montgomery County’s failure to prosecute this crime.

“We need to remove this man from society and make sure he never hurts another child again.”

During the civil trial held this week held at The 155^th Judicial District Court, Fayette County, Texas, the firm of Sico, White, Hoelscher & Braugh, L.L.P amassed evidence necessary to obtain damages based on a liability finding against Don Wilburn Collins for the assaults on Robbie Middleton. Damages amounting to $150 billion in punitive damages and $370 million in actual damages have been awarded to Middleton’s family. All of the attorneys and litigation staff represented Middleton pro bono.

“The fact that this boy was sexually assaulted then set on fire two weeks later by the same person is horrific and unthinkable. The man responsible for this monstrous crime has never been prosecuted for this act, which ultimately led to Robbie’s death,” said Craig Sico, lead counsel for plaintiff. “We need to remove this man from society and make sure he never hurts another child again.”

The crime took place in Montgomery County in a suburb outside of Houston. To date, no substantive action has been taken by Montgomery County to prosecute Collins, even though substantial evidence has been established that he in fact set Middleton on fire with the intent to kill him two weeks following the sexual assault in the woods near Middleton’s home. The only official action taken has been the opening of a cold case file by the Montgomery County Attorney after receiving subpoenas in this civil litigation requesting that the evidence be disclosed to the Middleton family. Opening a cold case file legally permits Montgomery County officials a process by which to deny sharing their closed file with the Middleton family and the public. At this time, the Middleton family does not know whether Montgomery County will ever take official steps to prosecute Collins or will simply continue to deny the Middleton family access to the file and to justice.

The cause number for this trial is 2009V-224. People are encouraged to send letters, emails, or direct calls to Brett W. Ligon, Montgomery County District Attorney, 207 W. Phillips, 2nd Floor, Conroe, Texas 77301, demanding that either the criminal file be turned over to the proper officials or that the County prosecutes Collins, before another child is hurt. If people are interested in providing charitable contributions, please send them to Shriners Hospitals for Children c/o The Middleton Family, 802 N. Carancahua, Suite 900, Corpus Christi, TX 78401.

The Middleton family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the hard work of everyone involved in this case and for working without charge: the trial team of Craig Sico, Clif Alexander, and Emily Reyes of Sico, White, Hoelscher & Braugh, Ken Bigham of The Bigham Law Firm, with litigation support and trial consulting services provided by Sean Hanko of Res Ipsa.

More information about the case can be found here (http://www.swbtrial.com/middleton/) in addition to photos of the parties involved.