DOVER, Del. (AP) - Attorneys for a young woman who claims in a lawsuit that she was sexually abused by former Sussex County councilman Vance Phillips are asking a judge to find Phillips liable because he has not explicitly denied the allegations.
Citing his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination, Phillips has refused to address the allegations by the 21-year-old woman, who was once his political protege.
Her attorneys argued Monday that the judge should rule in her favor regarding liability because Phillips has not disputed the allegations.
But Phillips' attorneys argued that the court cannot infer his liability based on the assertion of his 5th Amendment rights. They also argued that a jury must decide whether the woman's claims are believable, despite what they say are inconsistent and contradictory statements she has made.
