Hawthorn Football Club sued after man shot in groin during armed holdup
A man was pistol-whipped and shot in the groin at a Hawthorn Football Club-owned pokies venue, while his terrified wife had a gun pulled on her by armed robbers. And now, the couple is suing the Hawks.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Hawthorn Football Club is being sued by a Melbourne man who was shot in the groin by a gun-wielding robber during a holdup at one of its lucrative pokies venues.
Alex Koutras, 56, was whacked in the head with the gun butt before being shot after two gunmen stormed the Hawks-run gaming venue Vegas at Waverley Gardens in Mulgrave on March 2, 2018.
His wife Mary Koutras, 48, also had the gun pulled on her.
They are both making a financial claim for damages against the Hawks.
In a writ filed in the County Court, the Dandenong couple said the football club had failed in its duty to provide adequate security at the premises.
They claim the club did not learn from previous armed robberies in May 2017 and February 2018 and “ought to have known” the venue may be the target of another armed robbery.
The club also ignored a complaint made by Ms Koutras about the adequacy of security at the premises in a meeting with management in November 2017.
“At all relevant times, the defendant owed the plaintiffs a duty to take reasonable care to avoid foreseeable risk of injury to them, including injury from the violent conduct of other persons,” the writ says.
The club, they said, failed to:
• Have regard for the layout of the premises, including ease of access to the cashier;
• Provide any or sufficient security staff;
• Adequately train its staff, including its security staff;
• Have any or sufficient CCTV or surveillance; and
• Contact police or security staff, immediately or at all, when the robbery began.
Mr Koutras was taken to hospital after the shooting and had to undergo surgery to remove bullet fragments from his abdomen and groin.
He claims he now suffers pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety and depression.
Ms Koutras also suffers PTSD and anxiety and depression.
In a statement, Hawthorn said it was aware of the legal claim but “as the matter is with the courts, the club will not be making any further comment at this time”.
MORE NEWS
ACCUSED DRUG TRAFFICKER DISAPPEARS
INFAMOUS FRANKSTON GRAFFITI BABY DADDY FOUND
AFL clubs have come under scrutiny in recent years over their reliance on gaming machine revenue, sparking many to step away from pokies.
In November, the Western Bulldogs sold its two pokies venues, joining North Melbourne and Collingwood in leaving the gaming industry.
Geelong is also in the process of selling its last poker machines.
But Hawthorn has not jumped on the bandwagon, raking in almost $25 million, the highest of any club, from its two venues — Vegas at Waverley Gardens and West Waters Hotel in Caroline Springs — last financial year.