The former Penn economics professor who pleaded guilty to killing his wife is fighting back against a civil verdict forcing him to pay $124.2 million in damages for the offense.
On Nov. 5, Rafael Robb , who pleaded guilty to killing his wife Ellen Gregory Robb in 2007 , was ordered by jury to pay $124.2 million in damages to his daughter, Olivia . A week after the jury found against Robb, Eric D. Levin , Robb's defense attorney, filed a post-trial relief motion to have the damages against Robb set aside, reduced or — at the very least — placed on hold while he gets a new trial.
Robert Mongeluzzi, the attorney representing Olivia, said that Robb's appeal is "as meritless as his defense was at trial." At the trial, he said, Robb argued that he was prejudiced against because the jury must have perceived him as a dangerous person when two officers walked Olivia to a side door to avoid the media.
"He has as much chance of winning this appeal as his wife had of surviving his murderous bludgeoning with a steel crowbar as she had only a pink pen for filling out Christmas gift cards to defend herself with," Mongeluzzi said.
Levin, Robb's attorney, could not be reached by phone or email for comment on Sunday.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.