Case Overview
- Our client suffered childhood sexual abuse while in the custody of a juvenile detention centre.
- We argued that the institution was responsible for both the abuse and our client’s quality of life as well.
- Our client won $200,000 for historical childhood sexual abuse from the early 1970s.
A man recently received an institutional abuse claim for $200,000 for historical childhood sexual abuse that he suffered whilst remanded in custody in the early 1970s at the age of 10 – 11 years old.
Our client was singled out and sexually abused by an officer of the detention centre on repeated occasions. He was forced to engage in the officer’s demands as the officer would threaten our client saying that he would stay at the detention centre for the entirety of his life.
“Due to our client’s sudden terminal cancer diagnosis, we made arrangements to urgently participate in an informal settlement conference with the defendant so that we could resolve his case.“
Christine Beshay
Our Approach
Due to our client’s sudden terminal cancer diagnosis, we made arrangements to urgently participate in an informal settlement conference with the defendant so that we could resolve his case. We argued that the defendant was vicariously liable for the actions of the officer, including the intentional torts committed by the officer during the course of his employment. Our team also argued that the defendant failed to implement an adequate system for supervising and monitoring the activities of staff at the detention centre.
Our case posited that the abuse had a negative impact on the plaintiff’s life and that it affected our client’s ability to work and maintain healthy relationships with others.
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 or fill out an online enquiry form.
The Result
With the help of GMP Law, our client settled his case for $200,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Information
A statute of limitations effectively sets a time limit on the start of legal proceedings. For offences that have a statute of limitations, claims have to be brought before the time limit expires.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of sexual assault or physical or mental abuse as an adult, the statute of limitations is three years. If the victim was a child at the time of the offence there is no time limit.
The National Redress System was set up in the wake of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013 to 2017). It is designed to offer support and financial compensation to victims. Claims can be made until June 2027.
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.
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