School abuse survivor Katrina Munting wins an extra $113K on top of $2m payout

A sexual abuse survivor who was last week awarded a $2 million damages payout has had her case return to court – for an extra $113,000 to be added to her sum.

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

A sexual abuse survivor who was last week awarded a $2 million damages payout has had her case return to court – for an extra $113,000 to be added to her sum.

As a teenage girl in the 1990s, Katrina Faye Munting was abused by her Rose Bay High School science teacher, Marcus James Pollard, who was aged in his 40s.

Pollard ultimately spent 18 months in jail, from October 2020, after pleading guilty to the persistent sexual abuse of a young person.

But Ms Munting, who has repeatedly spoken out to advocate for victim-survivors – including during Tasmania’s child sexual abuse commission of inquiry – filed a civil case against not only Pollard, but also his former employer, the State of Tasmania.

Katrina Munting. Picture: Chris Kidd

Last week, following a 2023 civil trial, Ms Munting was awarded a total sum of $2,016,135 in the Supreme Court of Tasmania.

But the case was called back to court on Monday as the court has miscalculated the interest payable.

The new and correct total amount Ms Munting will receive – from Pollard and the state government combined – is $2,129,595.

On Monday, Acting Justice David Porter made the amendment in court, noting he would provide published reasons for his decision.

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