Adam Kneale wins multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Western Bulldogs

The Western Bulldogs will appeal a record $5.9m compensation payout to a child sex abuse survivor who suffered years of abuse as a child at the hands of a pedophile at Whitten Oval.

The Western Bulldogs will appeal a record $5.9m compensation payout to a child sex abuse survivor which the victim’s lawyer said could trigger claims against other clubs.

Adam Kneale sued Footscray Football Club, now the Western Bulldogs, after he suffered years of sexual abuse at the hands of fundraising volunteer and convicted pedophile Graeme Hobbs in the 1980s.

The Bulldogs denied it knew about the abuse but a Supreme Court jury on Thursday returned a landmark verdict, finding the club was negligent and awarding Mr Kneale $5,943,151 in damages — the largest sum awarded by a jury to an abuse survivor in Australia and the first against an AFL club.

Adam Kneale speaks after the Supreme Court returned its verdict. Picture: Josie Hayden

In a statement the club acknowledged the suffering endured by Mr Kneale but said it firmly believed it had not breached its duty of care to him, despite the jury finding otherwise.

“The Club will appeal this jury verdict as expeditiously as possible. Pending the appeal, the Club will have no further comment to make,” it said.

Mr Kneale’s lawyer Michael Magazanik, a partner with Rightside Legal, said he expected further claims against the Bulldogs and other clubs, noting he was aware of other alleged abuse at Footscray and in St Kilda Little League teams.

“Nothing encourages or gives confidence to an abuse survivor more than another abuse survivor standing up and succeeding,” he said.

“I have no doubt that there were other victims at the Western Oval in the early 1980s and I suspect we will see some of them shortly.”

Adam Kneale suffered abuse at the hands of a pedophile at at Whitten Oval.

He said the case should serve as a “lesson” for the Bulldogs and the result was what the club deserved for failing to protect Mr Kneale.

“The Western Bulldogs failed Adam as a child, there’s no two ways about it, they failed him tragically,” he said.

“They let a pedophile ruin his life.”

The three-week trial heard Hobbs, now dead, was a “Jack of all trades” at Footscray Football Club and a star fundraising volunteer for the cash-strapped team in the 1980s.

He was also a predator who abused a young Mr Kneale between 1984 and 1990 in club offices, boardroom, staff toilets, change rooms and a stand, as well as on a bus travelling with the cheer squad to and from Sydney.

Another witness, who cannot be named, also claimed he was abused by Hobbs.

Adam Kneale says he hopes the result will encourage other survivors to come forward. Picture: Josie Hayden

Mr Kneale was also exposed to a pedophile ring where he was abused by other men.

After the verdict, Mr Kneale, now 51, embraced his lawyers.

Outside court he said he had waited decades for the club to recognise his suffering and he hoped the result encouraged others to come forward.

“I believe wholeheartedly that they (the club) knew what happened,” he said.

“It took me more than 30 years to do this, and I’ve done it for the other victims. I know there were others and I wanted to make the path easier for them.”

Fearing Hobbs could prey on other children, Mr Kneale reported him to police in 1993.

Fearing Hobbs could prey on other children, Mr Kneale reported him to police in 1993.

Hobbs confessed and was jailed before died in 2009.

Former Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon gave evidence at trial claiming he had no knowledge about abuse allegations against Hobbs despite police interviewing staff and a front page news story in a local paper published in 1994.

Mr Kneale was awarded $3,250,00 for pain and suffering, $2,605,578 for lost earnings, and $87,573 for medical expenses.

The club was also ordered to pay Mr Kneale’s legal costs.