Revealed: Private Coast school settles sex abuse case after marathon legal win
One of the Gold Coast’s leading private schools has agreed to settle a claim by a former student for sexual abuse, after a lengthy legal battle.
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A GOLD Coast leading private school has agreed to settle a claim by a former student for sexual abuse, after a lengthy legal battle.
The Bulletin can reveal the student had attended The Southport School more than 20 years ago, as a boarder.
Kimberly Allen, Shine Lawyers Abuse Law Specialist told the Bulletin: “Despite the many hurdles put in front of our client by The Southport School, he is relieved to have this matter settled and to have held the school to account for the sexual abuse he suffered (more than 20 years ago) while a boarder.
“No amount of compensation will ever make up for what our client experienced as a vulnerable school boy, but it does bring him a much needed sense of justice.
“Our client has shown incredible courage to withstand what has been a drawn out legal process. He has had to live with ongoing trauma and now he can finally try and move forward knowing TSS has rightfully acknowledged his pain and suffering.”
Ms Allen said it was disappointing that lawyers have had to litigate the case for TSS to finally agree to a settlement.
“What happened to our client at such an impressionable age has severely impacted his life. His innocence was taken from him by two male perpetrators when he was trying to complete year 9 as a TSS boarder. He took on the school wanting to ensure that no other student would experience what he did,” she said.
“We now hope that TSS will see the absolute importance of finalising the remainder of our clients’ claims in the best interest of their health and wellbeing.
“To-date TSS has fought every step of the way, including stalling our civil legal claims, forcing us to litigate and apply for court dates for five of our seven clients abused at their school.
“The sexual abuse suffered by our clients ranges in severity and a lot of the opportunistic incidents took place within the boarding dorms by employees of the school, but were not limited to those areas of the school.”
In November last year, TSS admitted it had paid out close to 1.5 million to 11 sex abuse survivors – and at least another 18 former old boys want compensation.
TSS confirmed to the Bulletin there were 18 “open claims” – three where legal proceedings have been commenced, 12 are under personal injury law and another three with the National Redress Scheme.
TSS at the time advised there was $3.273 million available for open claims.
The legal claims follow an exclusive series of reports in the Bulletin starting in early 2017 after private detective Bill Edgar became a whisteblower having interviewed the victim of an alleged rape in a dormitory in 1971.
Former students and their families contacted Mr Edgar and the newspaper, and in one instance a 31-year-old alleged years of shocking physical and sexual abuse starting when he was a 10-year-old boarder.
Mr Edgar late last year said he was aware of 33 survivors of alleged abuse at TSS, which occurred from the 1970s to about 1997. He predicted the compensation bill would run into millions.
In a statement to the Bulletin, The Southport School said: “It is a public fact that abuse occurred in the past. Every claim of abuse is taken seriously by TSS and survivors of abuse will be supported.”
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