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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Woman, Raped Repeatedly, Wins $1 Million Jury Award

Associated Press

A 26-year-old woman who was raped repeatedly as a teenager and who contends she contracted a sexually transmitted disease as a result has won a $1 million jury award.

The Franklin County woman, who was identified in court papers only by the initials “H.R.,” had asked for a minimum $500,000 in damages in the civil suit she filed in 1988.

The woman sought compensation for medical care, treatment, counseling, mental anguish and suffering.

According to documents filed in Franklin County Superior Court, Urey D. Howell had sexual intercourse with the woman starting when she was 13 or 14. The abuse continued for four years, the documents said.

Howell, of the Tri-Cities, was convicted of criminal charges in the case in 1988 and was sentenced to 34 months in the Pine Lodge Correctional Facility at Medical Lake. He since has been released.

Jurors made the award Sept. 29 following a two-day trial.

The woman’s attorney, Ed Shea of Pasco, said one factor in the award was the fact that the woman had been treated for herpes as a teenager. Howell also has herpes. Shea argued that Howell had infected his client with the disease.