
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 23, 1990                   TAG: 9003232313
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

JUDGE WON'T LESSEN AWARD AGAINST HEIR

A judge on Thursday refused a motion by lawyers for Cornelius Francis Florman Jr. to reduce the $8.5 million Florman was ordered to pay to a woman he was convicted of raping.

William S. Smithers Jr., a lawyer for Florman, a great-grandson of the founder of Reynolds Metals Co., said the award - believed to be the highest damage award ever given to a rape victim by a civil court jury - is excessive.

But the arguments failed to sway Circuit Court Judge Joseph Spinella. "I see no reason to set it aside," Spinella said of the award.

- Associated Press

***Correction Published Mar. 25, 1990*** CORRECTION The Associated Press reported erroneously Thursday that Cornelius Francis Florman Jr., who was ordered to pay $8.5 million to a woman who sued him on a rape claim, was convicted of the rape. Florman was acquitted in criminal court but lost the civil case.

Memo: correction

by CNB