“Ms. Scaccetti is very happy that the jury found in her favor and awarded her damages – and is especially happy that by bringing this lawsuit she may have saved others from being victimized by Yehuda Berg."
Above: Rabbi Yehuda Berg
Kabbalh Centre, Former Top Rabbi, Ordered To Pay Woman $177,500 Over Sex Abuse Claim
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
A jury in Los Angeles, California has ordered the son of the LA-based Kabbalah Centre International’s founder to pay a $85,000 to a victim of alleged sex abuse plus another $50,000 in punitive damages because he acted with malice, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Jena Scaccetti, then an adult student of Rabbi Yehuda Berg, alleged Berg lured her to an apartment in Manhattan and plied with drugs and alcohol in order to try to rape her.
The jury reportedly rejected Scaccetti’s claim that Berg battered her but found Berg was responsible for inflicting emotional distress on Scaccetti. It also found the Kabbalah Centre negligent in its supervision of Berg, who was the centre’s co-director, and ordered it to pay Scaccetti $42,500
“Ms. Scaccetti is very happy that the jury found in her favor and awarded her damages – and is especially happy that by bringing this lawsuit she may have saved others from being victimized by Yehuda Berg," Alain V. Bonavida, Scaccetti’s attorney, reportedly said.
In total, the jury awarded Scaccetti a total of $177,500.
Berg admitted during trial that he has a substance abuse problem and claimed he resigned from his chief role at the Kabbalah Centre because of it. Berg is the rabbi to several top Hollywood stars including Ashton Kutcher and Madonna.