A Hennepin County Jury recently awarded a $12.5 million verdict to a Minnesota woman who was sexually abused by her figure skating coach as a minor. The abuse, which spanned at least 80 times over two years, started when the victim was 14 years old.
At the end of the 10-day trial, the jury awarded the former athlete $7.5 million for past mental and emotional harm, $2.5 million for future mental and emotional harm, and $2.5 million in punitive damages. Defendant Thomas Incantalupo is currently serving 24 years in prison.
Background of the Case
Defendant Thomas Incantalupo was a respected and well-known figure skating coach who had a long history as a skater and member of U.S. Figure Skating. He worked at Braemar Figure Skating Club and Eden Prairie Figure Skating Club after starting coaching in 1990.
Prior to his 2019 arrest, Incantalupo had passed all background checks with SafeSport, a program run by the U.S. Center for SafeSport that focuses on preventing sexual, emotional, and physical abuse and misconduct in sports, and had no abuse claims against him.
A few years after the victim in this case began figure skating, her parents hired Incantalupo at the suggestion of a club where she was skating. He then began taking her on unchaperoned international and national trips for figure skating competitions, where he began abusing her.
The victim alleges the abuse happened dozens of times over the course of two years.
Attorney Michael Hall III’s Fight for Justice
Michael Hall III of Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys served as the attorney for the victim in the case. He stated that Incantalupo’s attorneys brought up several arguments, including saying Incantalupo was gay and therefore could not have abused the girl, as well as suggesting the victim made her story up.
In contrast, the victim stated that Incantalupo abused her more than 80 times. “It was obviously emotionally difficult to do that,” Attorney Hall said, “On the other hand, there is something to be said for when a verdict comes back in your favor and acknowledges what happened. I know she’s deeply grateful for what the jury decided.”
Minnesota Laws on Civil Sexual Assault Claims
Minnesota law allows survivors of sexual abuse to pursue justice through civil litigation in addition to any criminal proceedings. In a civil sexual assault lawsuit, the survivor can file a claim against the perpetrator and, in some cases, third parties who may have facilitated or failed to prevent the abuse.
Minnesota permits adult survivors of sexual abuse to bring claims up to several years after discovering the injury was caused by the abuse. Additionally, Minnesota’s Child Victims Act opened a window for individuals to file claims for abuse that occurred when they were minors, even if the statute of limitations had previously expired.
Civil claims allow survivors to seek monetary compensation for the harm they suffered, including pain and suffering, emotional trauma, therapy expenses, and more. Unlike criminal trials, civil cases focus on compensating the victim rather than punishing the offender.
Legal Options for Survivors
The $12.5 million verdict in this Minnesota case is a powerful reminder that civil courts offer survivors a path to justice, even when criminal charges have already been filed. While no amount of money can undo the trauma this survivor endured, the jury’s decision provides valuable resources to support her healing.
Survivors of sexual abuse should know they are not alone—and that legal options exist to hold perpetrators and enabling institutions accountable. If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse, don’t wait to explore your legal options. Contact Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a personal injury lawyer today.
For more information, please contact an experienced sexual abuse lawyer at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Minnesota, including Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Edina.
We proudly serve Hennepin County, Stearns County, and its surrounding areas:
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Minneapolis
825 Nicollet Mall, Suite 615
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(800) 292-1979
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 44.97514068188609, -93.27349979814521
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – St. Cloud
1010 W St Germain St # 320
St Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 255-1000
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 45.55903612908877, -94.16420517306956
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Edina
5200 Willson Rd #203
Edina, MN 55424
(952) 697-5560
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 44.90963991439301, -93.34937342327198
