Katrina Munting was a star student abused by teacher Marcus James Pollard – a judge has granted her a huge payout

Katrina Munting was a star student who’s life came crashing down after she was abused by her teacher Marcus Pollard. Now a judge has made him and the state pay a huge amount in compensation. Details >>

Katrina Munting with her husband Danny outside court. Picture: Linda Higginson

A former star student who was sexually abused by her teacher at Hobart’s Rose Bay High School in the late 1990s, has won a $2 million payout in the Supreme Court of Tasmania.

Katrina Munting launched civil action against both her abuser, science teacher Marcus James Pollard, and his former employer, the State of Tasmania, for the impact Pollard’s crimes had on her career and future earning potential.

Pollard was jailed in October 2020 for 18 months over the historic child sexual abuse he committed when he was 41, and Mrs Munting was just 15.

During a six-day, judge-only civil trial held in March last year, Mrs Munting’s lawyers told Acting Justice David Porter that Pollard’s conduct had left their client “irreparably and irreversibly damaged”.

In her statement of claim for damages caused by negligence, assault and battery, Mrs Munting said she had been forced to turn down a PhD offer from the University of Tasmania because Pollard was employed there.

The civil trial heard that Mrs Munting had been described as a “brilliant young female scientist” who had entered university with an ATAR entrance score of 99, and who would have been a professor by 2022 had her career not been cut short.

In the Supreme Court on Monday, Acting Justice Porter ordered that Pollard and the State of Tasmania together pay Mrs Munting $1,976,135.

Pedophile teacher Marcus Pollard leaves the Supreme Court of Tasmania, Hobart. Picture Chris Kidd

But Acting Justice Porter ordered that the State of Tasmania be fully indemnified by Pollard for the sum, leaving Mrs Munting’s abuser liable to pay the full amount himself.

Pollard was also ordered to pay a separate sum of $25,000, and the State of Tasmania ordered to pay another $15,000, bringing the total payout to $2,016,135.

Speaking outside court, and surrounded by family and supporters, Mrs Munting said while she was pleased with the court’s decision after a long post-trial wait, the abuse inflicted by Pollard could never be undone.

“No amount of money will ever take away the damage that was done all those years ago by my abuser, and by the enablers, the people that stood by and allowed it to happen,” Mrs Munting said.

“I want perpetrators to know that this is part of us gaining justice, and gaining our power back.

Katrina Munting with her husband Danny outside court. Picture: Linda Higginson

“Today’s judgment will never take away the pain, and will never take away the nightmares.

“But it will help me to gain the mental health services I require, and to make life-changing decisions that enable me to live in a way where I can improve my mental health.

“I hope the State will take this case and reflect on it very carefully, in the approach that they took, and what they have put me through to get to this point.

“I hope it will inform change for them as an organisation.”

The State Government was contacted for comment.