Tylskis to Pay More Than $1 Million to Former Daughter in Final Ruling

Ann Butler, Dave Wax and Jennifer Lindgren

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The judge has awarded the former adopted child of Rich and Jane Tylski $1,000,000 in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages in a final judgment issued Wednesday.

Former NFL offensive guard Rich Tylski and his wife defended themselves last week during a civil case brought on behalf of their adopted daughter, who was abused while living with them.

The girl, called Jane Doe in court papers and represented by a guardian ad litem, sued the Tylskis for "intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault and battery."

The couple, who adopted Doe in 2004, is accused of hitting their adopted daughter in 2006 with a belt, slamming her head on a table and other abuse that left the girl, 6, with broken bones in her hands and leg. Doe lived with the Tylskis until March 2006.

In 2008, Jane Tylski, 36, pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse in a criminal case and received probation. Her husband, the 35-year-old former Jacksonville Jaguars player, admitted the use of excessive punishment. The couple since has given up rights to the girl.

According to the settlement released today, the Tylskis "admitted to...striking her with a belt, hitting her with a wooden spoon, placing 'hot sauce' on her tongue, bending her fingers backwards, and otherwise striking her" as discipline.

In court last week, the first photos ever seen of the bruises on the girl were revealed in court. The pictures, taken at the hospital in March 2006, show bruises on the girl's chest, legs and back. It also documents a broken finger and broken leg.

Jane Tylski also told a judge during the proceedings that her former daughter's story is false. When asked if she ever bit her child or told her she wanted her dead, Tylski responded, "Never."

The guardian ad litem sued the couple for money for the girl's medical expenses for the rest of her life. She already has had some surgeries, but will need long-term psychological and physical care, according to the lawsuit.

The Department of Children and Families told police the girl missed 14 days of school from October to March.

Richard Tylski played the first four years of his career for the Jaguars, then spent four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and one year with the Carolina Panthers before retiring after the 2004 season. On the police report, he said he was self-employed. His wife did not list an employer on her arrest report.