AFL club Western Bulldogs rocked by historical child sexual abuse scandal

[Bulldog4life]

Yeah I knew that but its extremely vague. Did they break it down any further saying what we actually did poorly vs what we should have done?

Not to my knowledge. I only read what I could in any newspaper online.

[FrediKanoute]

If it's a jury trial then there will be very little reasoning for the decision.

Was the club on the balance of probabilities negligent in its obligations in keeping a minor safe from harm. Did the club owe a duty of care to the minor to keep them safe from harm. Did the club through its acts or omissions allow a minor to be abused thereby failing in its duty of care.

The appeal is likely to be an alleged error in law in that the jury was wrong to extend the duty of care to the club for the actions of a volunteer. The key is the omissions in this case. If the facts can prove that mangement at the club knew or were made aware and did nothing, well regardless of standards now and back then, we are probably liable, but if no one in a position of authority was aware, and there was no safeguarding requirements etc back in the 80's then the claim is harder to prove and damages will be lower as a consequence - mitigating factors.

[angelopetraglia]

If the Bulldogs case resulted in ~$6m of damages. The Perth Wildcats should be facing $600m. What the Wildcasts are accused of doing is at least 100 times worse than the Bulldogs accusations https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-...ault/102958610

[Dry Rot]

There is a new article about this on the Australian website which I cannot access behind its payroll payroll.

The headline says Child sex abuse case costs AFL's Bulldogs $7.4 million.

The copy underneath says the Western Bulldogs AFL team has added $1.5 million worth of costs to it's nearly $6 million sex abuse compensation bill.

Perhaps someone with a subscription to the site could post the article.

[hujsh]

There is a new article about this on the Australian website which I cannot access behind its payroll payroll.

The headline says Child sex abuse case costs AFL's Bulldogs $7.4 million.

The copy underneath says the Western Bulldogs AFL team has added $1.5 million worth of costs to it's nearly $6 million sex abuse compensation bill.

Perhaps someone with a subscription to the site could post the article.

Not news. Was in the financial results a while back

The financial result includes a loss from operations (before redevelopment activities) of $6,051,332 (2022: $1,363,857 profit) which comprises a legal judgement of damages and associated costs relating to the recent Supreme Court case involving the Club, totalling $7,430,490 (2022: Nil).  The Club intends to appeal this judgement.

[Dry Rot]

Not news. Was in the financial results a while back

OK missed that.

So much for The Australian and its news.

[Grantysghost]

There is a new article about this on the Australian website which I cannot access behind its payroll payroll.

The headline says Child sex abuse case costs AFL's Bulldogs $7.4 million.

The copy underneath says the Western Bulldogs AFL team has added $1.5 million worth of costs to it's nearly $6 million sex abuse compensation bill.

Perhaps someone with a subscription to the site could post the article.

Pay wall smay wall.

https://archive.is/2023.12.09-030007...662-1702090816

[Twodogs]

Pay wall smay wall.

https://archive.is/2023.12.09-030007...662-1702090816

Interesting. Can you do the same with the articles underneath that one;


Dogs’ financials remain in limbo until compensation appeal



Revealed: How Dogs will pay $5.9m legal bill



Please and thank you.

[Grantysghost]

Interesting. Can you do the same with the articles underneath that one;


Dogs’ financials remain in limbo until compensation appeal



Revealed: How Dogs will pay $5.9m legal bill



Please and thank you.

https://archive.is/2023.12.10-025623...33b-1702176991

https://archive.is/2023.12.10-030240...0a7-1702177367

[bornadog]

https://archive.is/2023.12.10-025623...33b-1702176991

https://archive.is/2023.12.10-030240...0a7-1702177367

These never load up for me

[Axe Man]

Western Bulldogs set to face second legal claim over historical sexual abuse

The Western Bulldogs are facing a second potentially devastating legal action over alleged abuse by a convicted pedophile who volunteered at the club.

The alleged victim, now 51, claims he was abused by child predator Graeme Hobbs in 1987 after meeting him at Whitten Oval.

Hobbs’ first victim, Adam Kneale, was awarded $5.9 million in November 2023, after the club stalwart had admitted abusing him, was jailed and the Bulldogs were found negligent in protecting him from harm.

The landmark judgement was hailed as an “earthquake” in Australia’s legal system, with the sum dwarfing previous compensation payouts to abuse survivors.

It was also the first successful claim against an AFL club.

Kneale was aged 11 when the “jack of all trades” Hobbs first raped him at the ground in 1984.

The Western Bulldogs have challenged the negligence verdict in the Kneale case, with the hearing scheduled to start in the Court of Appeal on Friday.

But a second alleged victim – a schoolmate of Kneale – has now claimed in Supreme Court documents he too was befriended and abused by Hobbs at the club and off-site.

He alleged Hobbs twice took him, when he was 14, from the club to an Essendon house where he was abused.

On one occasion, he alleged he was forced to watch Hobbs rape Kneale, while another time he claimed he was asked to strip naked and Hobbs tried to rape him.

Hobbs, who is now dead, was a club volunteer, fundraiser and under 19s training staff member.

Rightside Legal partner Michael Magazanik, who represents Kneale and the alleged second victim, said both abuse survivors were committed to holding the club to account.

“Both of my clients have lived with their shocking consequences of their abuse for decades,’’ Mr Magazanik said.

“It has caused mental illness, torment and suffering. Hobbs and his pedophile friends were convicted and jailed but that doesn’t give their victims their lives back.

“That’s why both my clients want justice from the Western Bulldogs and it’s why the jury (in the first case), six Victorians chosen at random, thought justice was required.’’

Mr Magazanik said the Bulldogs’ appeal had ‘’prolonged the torment of the survivor’’.

“That’s why the second survivor will have to take the club to another trial,’’ he said.

“The Bulldogs’ decision to deny any legal responsibility for these men who were abused at their ground, means we have renewed our search for other victims of Hobbs, and people who may know something about Hobbs’ offending at the Western Bulldogs to gather more information for any future trial.’’

Mr Magazanik said that in his experience of litigating sexual abuse claims, appeals against jury verdicts were very rare.

Acting for the Bulldogs in Friday’s appeal is high-profile silk Bret Walker, who successfully represented Cardinal George Pell at his appeal in the High Court in 2019.

A club spokesperson said: “The Western Bulldogs can confirm that a statement of claim has been issued against the club relating to allegations from the 1980’s.

“The club intends to defend the matter, noting that it treats any allegation of this nature with the utmost seriousness and care for all involved. With the matter concerning Mr Adam Kneale scheduled to be heard in the Court of Appeal this week, the club will not be making any further comment on either matter at this time.”

[Grantysghost]

Don't know what to say really.

This abomination of an ex life form could bring a place that brings joy (and despair) to thousands to its knees.

[FrediKanoute]

Awful situation and nothing good comes of it.

This is though a very revisionist decision. It is about applying 21st century standards to the organisation in the 1980's. Yes there were failings, and the club has probably failed in its duty of care against 21st C requirements, but I struggle to justify that level of pay out. If hat level had been awarded in the 1980's the club would have gone broke

[jDogs]

Gee, Brett Walker is representing the club at appeal? This is pretty massive.

[D Mitchell]

Bret Walker KC. Represented Cardinal Pell in the High Court, made the Court of Appeal look second rate. For the sake of the club and the reputation of the state judiciary, let?s hope the bench performed better yesterday. Judgment reserved.