Civil actions lodged in wake of Launceston paedophile nurse James Geoffrey Griffin revelations
GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: Two more women have come forward claiming they were abused by a paedophile nurse and have joined other alleged victims in suing the state government.
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A WOMAN who alleges she was raped by paedophile paediatric nurse James Geoffrey Griffin at the Launceston General Hospital when she was a teenager has filed proceedings against the Tasmanian Health Service in the Supreme Court.
According to her statement of claim, she was an inpatient at the hospital in 2011 and was
receiving treatment.
She was placed in an induced coma in the intensive care unit and then moved to recovery in the paediatric ward.
The woman alleges Griffin gave her pain medication that would sedate her until she was barely able to stay awake, and raped and sexually abused her.
The woman’s claim is one of two new claims, adding to the two from alleged victims that came to light earlier this week.
The second woman alleges the abuse occurred when she was seeking treatment at the hospital for an eating disorder when she was a teenager.
According to the statement of claim, she said Griffin took deliberate actions to befriend her and establish an emotional connection to lower her inhibitions before allegedly sexually abusing her.
The woman said he told her parents that “I think of her as a daughter” and constantly said to her that she was his “baby girl” and his “special girl”.
She alleges he engaged in predatory conduct, including touching and taking photographs of her.
The other two women allege they were sexually abused by Griffin after being admitted as inpatients to the paediatric unit for treatment as teenagers.
The women said they made complaints to other nurses and the nurse ward manager about Griffin’s conduct, but their complaints were ignored.
Law firm Arnold Thomas & Becker said the hospital breached the duty of care it owed to the
girls.
Griffin died by suicide in October 2019 after criminal charges were laid against him.
Arnold Thomas & Becker lawyer Kim Price said they have heard numerous complaints from patients, staff and parents were made to the Launceston General Hospital about Griffin.
“Our clients, and many other young people, have suffered because the hospital has not done its job properly,” he said
“Despite these complaints, we allege that Tasmanian Health Service failed to intervene and enabled Griffin to continue to work at the hospital and to use it as his hunting ground.”
Arnold Thomas & Becker is expecting to lodge more claims against the health service.
“As a consequence of these failures and the subsequent abuse, our clients have suffered ongoing trauma, depression and other psychological injuries,” Mr Price said.
The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings will examine the revelations made about Griffin.
‘Don’t tell anyone’: Paedophile nurse preyed on teen girls
VICTIMS of notorious Launceston General Hospital paedophile nurse James Geoffrey Griffin are suing the state government for damages, in what is believed to be the first civil action lodged in the high-profile disaster.
The horrific crimes of prolific offender Griffin first came to light last year in The Nurse podcast, which revealed the registered nurse had molested a number of children and young people over 18 years while working at Launceston General Hospital’s paediatric centre.
Griffin died by suicide in October 2019 after criminal charges were finally laid against him.
The Mercury can now reveal two of his alleged victims filed proceedings against the Tasmanian Health Service in the Supreme Court of Tasmania last week.
According to their statements of claim, the two young women were admitted as inpatients to the paediatric centre as teenagers for treatment.
But they allege Griffin soon began to sexually abuse them.
One of the girls said Griffin groomed her by calling her “baby girl”, “darling”, “special girl” – often when she was heavily sedated.
Both girls said Griffin then sexually abused her while taking observations, including while measuring her blood pressure and changing her into hospital gowns.
He then allegedly told the girl “don’t tell anyone”, “that’s what friends do”, “this is our thing” and “this is our little secret”.
The other girl said Griffin also groomed her by establishing an emotional connection with her, spending time alone with her to “lower her inhibitions”.
She said the paedophile was “forceful and intimidating”, telling her to not tell anyone after he abused her.
Griffin also allegedly abused the girls after gaining their trust – at sleepovers at his home and while camping.
He also allegedly sedated and molested one of the girls at a Burnie hotel when he took her away for a go-karting trip.
The girls said they complained to other nurses and the nurse ward manager about Griffin’s conduct, but their complaints were ignored.
Law firm Arnold Thomas & Becker says the hospital breached the duty of care it owed to the girls as patients between 2015 and 2018.
“What is extraordinary about this case is that there had been a large number of complaints made to Launceston General Hospital about Griffin by many people, including patients, staff and parents,” lawyer Kim Price said.
“Despite these complaints, we allege the Tasmanian Health Service failed to intervene and enabled Griffin to continue to work there and prey on minors.”
Both girls say they have suffered serious harm as a result of the abuse, with trauma ranging from post traumatic stress disorder to self-harm, major depression and body dysmorphic disorder.
Arnold Thomas & Becker is expecting to lodge another two claims, possibly later this week.
It will run the claims as separate actions, abandoning earlier plans to instigate a class action against the Tasmanian Health Service, due to each case having unique circumstances.
Revelations about Griffin raised over the past year will be examined at the upcoming Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.
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