Class action investigations following the unmasking of a serial paedophile who groomed, molested kids in Launceston General Hospital

Arnold Thomas & Becker is investigating a class action against the Tasmanian Health Service, alleging abuse of young patients by a nurse who was employed at Launceston General Hospital over an 18 year period.

The firm’s investigation follows the unmasking of the serial paedophile who spent almost three decades grooming, drugging and molesting vulnerable children – using the hospital as his hunting ground.

Last October, police in Launceston laid more than a dozen charges against James ‘Jim’ Geoffrey Griffin, a 69-year-old man from Legana, who worked for 18 years as a paediatric nurse on the children’s ward at Launceston General Hospital in Tasmania.

The charges relate to sexual offences against children as young as 11 – abuse which Griffin admitted to during police questioning last year.

Lawyer Kim Price said “a class action would focus on abuse which occurred at the hospital from about 2001 to 2019 during which Griffin was an employee of the hospital”.

“It will be alleged that Tasmanian Health Service breached its duty of care because the abuse taking place in its facilities, despite policies, laws and regulations put in place to prevent it”, he said.

Mr Price said it was difficult to know how many people might join the class action.

He said a class action could be filed in the Supreme Court in Hobart early next year.

Arnold Thomas & Becker represent a number of Tasmanians who have suffered abuse in government facilities across the state.

How Arnold Thomas & Becker can help

Our specialist team offer legal advice and aim to settle abuse matters as quickly as possible.

In some instances, we have issued proceedings in the same week as the meeting with the client.

Our team works to bring civil actions on behalf of victims to attain significant compensation for all types of abuse. Our previous cases have seen substantial payouts, well above the redress cap.

We seek to provide survivors a voice, vindication, validation and justice.

In 2018, Tasmania abolished the limitation period for civil claims arising from child abuse, which means there is no longer a time limit for survivors to take legal action.

If you would like further information on how we can assist, please call our team 1300 333 300 or submit the enquiry from below.