Former Warrnambool schoolboy launches fresh legal action over Christian Brothers conduct A former Warrnambool schoolboy has launched fresh legal action against the Christian Brothers alleging a school headmaster was negligent in failing to report child sex abuse. The victim, Andrew, not his real name, was sexually abused by John Laidlaw when he was a teacher […]
Pedophile Coogan’s trail of victims are still seeking redress A notorious pedophile priest and teacher moved from school to school across Geelong for over two decades, it has been revealed, with some victims launching a fresh fight for compensation. John Patrick “Jack” Coogan was a physical education teacher who abused schoolboys from as early as […]
‘Outrageous’: Elite Geelong school encourages alumni to support abuse victims with cash A Geelong Grammar scheme asking past pupils to provide money and support to the wealthy school’s abuse survivors has been labelled “outrageous” by Arnold Thomas & Becker lawyer Jodie Harris. Healing and Hope is an organisation established in 2022 by Geelong Grammar’s Survivor […]
The Catholic Church said an abuse victim deserved $250,000. A jury gave him $3 million A Victorian jury has delivered a stinging rebuke to the Catholic Church, awarding $3.3 million to the victim of a notorious paedophile after the church argued compensation should be only $250,000. The Supreme Court case is the first time a […]
Survivors of paedophiles working at Launceston General Hospital receive $7.85 million compensation Survivors of alleged historical child sexual abuse at a Tasmanian hospital have received a combined $7.85 million settlement, with one claimant saying that while no money could remedy the abuse, it was “life-changing”. Law firm Arnold Thomas and Becker has resolved five claims […]
Ian Perry promoted to Barwon Downs principal despite child abuse allegations A teacher who was later convicted of child sex abuse was promoted to principal, despite the education department allegedly being made aware of concerns about his behaviour years earlier. Ian Perry was hired as principal at Barwon Downs Primary School, near Colac, in 1991. […]
Hundreds of Victorian schools facing historic child sex abuse claims More than one in ten Victorian schools is now under investigation for historic sexual abuse, with more than 500 former students potentially claiming up to one billion dollars in compensation. One law firm, Arnold Thomas & Becker, is investigating historical abuse allegations on behalf of […]
Former student allegedly abused by five staff members at Geelong Grammar A former Geelong Grammar student says his life has been “blighted” after allegedly being abused by five different staff members. Jarred, not his real name, attended Geelong Grammar for five years in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was allegedly sexually abused by […]
Nearly 400 Victorians taking legal action over alleged abuse at more than 200 schools Nearly 400 Victorians are taking legal action over alleged abuse suffered at more than 200 state and private schools, prompting calls for a full statewide inquiry. Nearly 100 more people have lodged claims with Arnold Thomas & Becker Lawyers in […]
An abuse victim got $50,000 through the redress scheme. He fought on, and settled for $500,000 A victim of historical sexual abuse at the former Bayswater Boys’ Home has reached a $500,000 settlement with the Salvation Army, after receiving just $50,000 under the National Redress Scheme. The case raises significant concerns about the capacity of […]