Rightside abuse survivor client defeats Bulldogs
Rightside Legal is honoured to have represented Adam Kneale in his historic win against the Western Bulldogs Football Club. After a four week Supreme Court trial Adam was awarded more than $5.9 million in damages by a jury of six, the biggest ever verdict at that time in Australia for an abuse survivor. The Bulldogs (then the Footscray Football Club) had denied any legal responsibility for the terrible abuse perpetrated by club volunteer Graeme Hobbs on Adam during the 1980s.
Further, despite knowing that a child had been repeatedly sexually abused on the premises, the club never tried to identify Adam or offer him help. See news coverage about Adam’s historic win via the links below.
The Bulldogs appealed against the jury decision, and while the Court of Appeal in December 2024 reduced the damages sum to $2.6 million, the Court accepted the jury finding that the Bulldogs were responsible for Mr Kneale’s abuse. Refusing to accept the Court’s decision, the Bulldogs then appealed to the High Court but failed.
Contact us for free advice about your claim on (03)9909 1142 or info@rightsidelegal.com.au
Image via the ABC.
Read more in this article in The Age, or in the following ABC stories:
Biggest verdict ever: Western Bulldogs ordered to compensate survivor
Western Bulldogs could face more sexual abuse lawsuits
Western Bulldogs payout to abuse survivor Adam Kneale reduced to $2.6 million