$700k compo claim over alleged bullying in ex-Labor MP’s office thrown out
A woman’s $726,542 negligence claim seeking damages for bullying and harassment in the electorate office of ex-Labor MP Jim Madden has been thrown out of court.
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A $726,542 negligence claim by a former staffer seeking damages for bullying and harassment in the office of ex-Labor MP Jim Madden has been thrown out of court.
In his decision handed down on Wednesday July 12, District Court Judge Dominique Grigg struck out ex-staff Alison Young’s damages claim against the state government filed on January 8.
Ms Young claimed that while she was employed by the Queensland Parliamentary Service, where she worked as an electoral office staffer for Madden who was the MP for the safe Labor seat of Ipswich West, west of Brisbane, she sustained an adjustment disorder, mixed anxiety and depressed mood, the decision states.
She was seeking general damages, aggravated damages, past economic loss, future economic loss and special damages, the decision states.
Mr Madden is now a division four councillor with Ipswich Council, after he quit Queensland’s parliament in January last year, he has previously denied the allegations.
The state government filed its defence in February denying liability because it did not employ Ms Young, as the state is not an agent or delegate of the Queensland Parliamentary Service.
It filed its strikeout application on June 18.
Judge Grigg agreed that the state of Queensland was not the proper defendant, because state parliament staff are not public servants like departmental staff.
Judge Grigg ruled that Ms Young was employed by the clerk of the legislative assembly, who is capable of being sued.
“The state of Queensland is not the proper defendant in this matter,” she wrote.
“I am satisfied that the defendant is not the proper defendant and therefore the pleading fails to disclose a reasonable cause of action against the defendant and should be struck out in its entirety,” she wrote.
Originally published as $700k compo claim over alleged bullying in ex-Labor MP’s office thrown out
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