Case Overview
- Our client was sexually abused while at a juvenile detention centre in the mid-1970s.
- The defendant argued that there was no evidence of the event.
- We were able to secure $300,000 in payout for our client.
The plaintiff was both sexually and physically assaulted by an unidentified officer on one occasion and reported the abuse to the superintendent at the time. The superintendent did nothing to reprimand or remove the officer, nor did the official offer assistance to the victim.
The defendant argued that there was nothing in the contemporaneous records capable of corroborating the plaintiff’s allegations. The defendant also argued that they did not possess any documented evidence establishing that it was on notice of any complaints of physical, psychological or sexual abuse of the plaintiff.
“Nothing stopped us from persevering with our client’s claim and arguing that the abuse took a negative toll on the plaintiff’s life.“
Georgette Bechara
Our Approach
Nevertheless, this did not stop us from persevering with our client’s claim and arguing that the abuse took a negative toll on the plaintiff’s life. The event affected our client’s ability to work, maintain healthy relationships with others and resulted in our client’s dependency on drugs and alcohol as a way to numb the pain and torment of the child abuse.
While the sum of money received by victims of childhood sexual abuse will never resolve the traumatic experience of the abuse or reverse past wrongs, it helps victims find some sense of closure.
If you have an enquiry in relation to a potential child abuse or sexual assault claim, please call us at 1800 004 878 and speak to one of our experienced lawyers. You can also email us via an online enquiry form for your convenience.
The Result
We were able to secure $300,000 in payout for our client.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Information
Division 10 of the Crimes Act 1900 outlines the criminal offence of sexual assault, as well as the definitions for ‘sexual intercourse’ and other related terminology.
Put simply, sexual assault constitutes any unwanted sexual behaviour committed by one person or a group of people towards another without consent. Continue reading for more information.
The commission has hit headlines recently due to its work in uncovering child sexual abuse claims against various religious organisations across Australia.
However, it’s not just the church that the agency investigates; all major institutions fall under its remit, including schools, sports clubs and government organisations. The authority explores private, public and non-government bodies that have at any point in time interacted with children.
The Civil Liability Act was enacted in 2002 to ensure that people who were injured had the ability to seek redress through the courts.
The Act applies to a number of circumstances where negligence forms part of the claim. Click below to learn more.
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