July 25, 1997

Dallas jury awards $120 million in damages after finding that Roman Catholic diocese ignored evidence that priest, Rudolph Kos, was sexually abusing boys and then tried to cover up abuses; church will be liable for virtually full amount, since 52-year-old Kos, who was suspended five years ago, is insolvent; he still faces criminal charges in two cases; plaintiffs are 10 men and family of 11th who committed suicide at age 20; one, Shawn Johnson, welcomes verdict; photo; plaintiffs charged that reasonable investigation would have uncovered abuse, occurring from 1977 to 1992; Kos had served time in juvenile center for molesting neighbor, had an ex-wife who says she informed church marriage tribunal of his attraction to boy, and had received warnings and complaints from other priests (M)

Richard L Scott, deal maker who built Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp, country's biggest for-profit hospital chain, appears close to resigning as chairman and chief executive; Columbia/HCA board meets to decide strategy of dealing with array of Government fraud investigations, which have depressed Columbia share prices, and takeover discussion with Tenet Healthcare Corp, second-largest investor-owned hospital chain; photo (L)

Proposal for sprawling glass complex--featuring 750-foot tower with curved base, luxury hotel, entertainment center and health club--emerges as leading development plan for site of New York Coliseum, property that has long been one of most invaluable yet famously ill fated in New York City; proposal, which would retain current Coliseum and adjacent 10 Columbus Circle, is offered by Millenium Partners, relative upstart in real estate world, and designers are Polshek & Partners, in collaboration with Gary Edward Handel & Associate; two other proposals are also in the running; map; drawing (M)

New Jersey officials ask Federal Govt for authority to prevent boat owners from dumping chlorine-treated sewage in Shark River Inlet; about 300 boats travel through inlet on typical weekend day in summer (S) (New Jersey Daily Briefing)

Ivelisse Torres, lawyer in the New Jersey's Office of the Public Defender for the last 18 years, will be sworn to head agency on July 25 (S) (New Jersey Public Briefing)