Damages tally for church’s paedophile victim tops $4 million

The damages payout for a sexual assault victim of former Albury priest and convicted paedophile Vincent Kiss has risen to more than $4 million after the Catholic church failed in its appeal of a jury verdict.
 
The Bishop of Wagga Mark Edwards had contested, on three grounds, the Victorian Supreme Court jury’s exemplary damages of $1.3 million awarded to the victim, our client, on November 10.
 
However, Supreme Court judge Stephen O’Meara rejected all arguments and ordered that interest of $462,000 be paid on damages for past pain and suffering and interest of $390,353 be paid on damages for past economic loss.
 
The verdict was the first from a jury against the Catholic church in Australia, as well as the first awarding of punitive damages.

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