Child Sex abuse lawsuit

[Iamspock]

Is there any way that all members or supporters can chip in an additional for $50 so that the club is back on track?

I wonder what palatable way we could do this without being accused of supporting a culpable organisation? Upgrading one’s membership? Any suggestions.

To be clear I feel empathy for that man and want him to have that money, but I also want to ensure our club remains in a healthy financial state.

I thought that in the Financials that were released at the AGM, that there money was set aside for the court case result?

 

[Golden_6]

I thought that in the Financials that were released at the AGM, that there money was set aside for the court case result?

It’s not necessary sitting ‘aside’ but it was on the balance sheet so it’s already been accounted for.

The club has access the a line of credit which I assume which will be draw down upon to partly fund the settlement rather than any cash reserves currently held.

 

[Pugz89]

I hope we don't appeal any further. Pay the man.

I can't imagine we would. I can totally understand why they appealed the initial penalty though.

 

[ossie_21]

Is there any way that all members or supporters can chip in an additional for $50 so that the club is back on track?

I wonder what palatable way we could do this without being accused of supporting a culpable organisation? Upgrading one’s membership? Any suggestions.

To be clear I feel empathy for that man and want him to have that money, but I also want to ensure our club remains in a healthy financial state.

I thought that appeal/donation seeking thing we had earlier this year or last was at least related to this court case..

 

[bobs head soup]

I hope we don't appeal any further. Pay the man.

It's been reported that the club's legal team requested a period of 28 days to make the payment, which would indicate that we're pretty keen to finalise the matter

 

[TiAn_]

It's been reported that the club's legal team requested a period of 28 days to make the payment, which would indicate that we're pretty keen to finalise the matter

Seeking a stay on enforcement is pretty standard. It doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t appeal again, 28 days is also the time allowed for filing an appeal in the High Court, from memory. That being said, it sounds like we went down pretty conclusively, I’d be surprised if we took it further.

 

[Dazb86]

Good result for the club financially. But it's a sad case and I hope all clubs can learn from it.

Hopefully the guy can lead a comfortable life from here and we have a much more thorough check on who we allow to be employed/volunteer at the club going forward.

 

[Graeme Cook]

I think any more lawsuits will be settled out of court now that an approximate amount was ruled.

 

[Charlie Bucket]

Was the end settlement amount?

 

[Graeme Cook]

Was the end settlement amount?

No CRT of appeal decision

 

[RedWhite&Blue]

I would have thought that the AFL/VFL, as the owner of all club licenses, would be culpable at some level and be ordered to pay a proportion of the award sum.
St Kilda will be going through this as well and if they aren’t then they should be because the Rod Owen story is horrific involving a peodaphile ring at a local primary school and the St Kilda little league.

 

[H Dolphin]

The Club lost big time in September 2023 because the Court held that it owed a duty of care to Kneale, that it was foreseeable that a bloke like Hobbs, the volunteer, would abuse young boys and that the Club breached that duty. The evidence Kneale relied upon on that point was that of a 16 year old U 19 player in 1981, 42 years ago. Macpherson's evidence was that he was involved in a number of group discussion among U 19 players into which Hobbs joined, that he thought Hobbs was sleazy and that Hobbs the sleaze "would have" come up in discussions with the Club Finance and Administration manager, Steve Smith, who also gave evidence but not of discussions with Macpherson. That was how the Club was supposed to have been made aware of Hobbs' pedaphilia. Whilst 2 of the 3 Judges thought this was enough to allow a jury to find wrongdoing by the Club, the third, the President of the Court of Appeal, found it wasn't. I'm sure the Club has far better advice than the opinion of an occasional bigfooty contributor but I hope the Club takes it to the High Court.

 

[BrisDog]

The Club lost big time in September 2023 because the Court held that it owed a duty of care to Kneale, that it was foreseeable that a bloke like Hobbs, the volunteer, would abuse young boys and that the Club breached that duty. The evidence Kneale relied upon on that point was that of a 16 year old U 19 player in 1981, 42 years ago. Macpherson's evidence was that he was involved in a number of group discussion among U 19 players into which Hobbs joined, that he thought Hobbs was sleazy and that Hobbs the sleaze "would have" come up in discussions with the Club Finance and Administration manager, Steve Smith, who also gave evidence but not of discussions with Macpherson. That was how the Club was supposed to have been made aware of Hobbs' pedaphilia. Whilst 2 of the 3 Judges thought this was enough to allow a jury to find wrongdoing by the Club, the third, the President of the Court of Appeal, found it wasn't. I'm sure the Club has far better advice than the opinion of an occasional bigfooty contributor but I hope the Club takes it to the High Court.

You make some good points mate, but I can’t see the club taking it to the High Court in the interests of the victim (poor bastard) and it would 100% create terrible PR.

 

[H Dolphin]

You make some good points mate, but I can’t see the club taking it to the High Court in the interests of the victim (poor bastard) and it would 100% create terrible PR.

Thanks for the first clause, BD. When it's the expense of going to the High Court, it's beyond concern for the victim. If the Club and/or sympathetic supporters wish to contribute to a fund for Kneale, that's fine, probably toss in myself. The solicitors for Kneale have already, publicly, indicated they are about to commence proceedings on behalf of another 'victim'. If this happened in the 1980s, the club wouldn't exist (in your case, perhaps, a good result, you'd be supporting the Brisbane-Fitzroy-Footscray Bears-Lions-Bulldogs). If it happened to the Altona Vikings or the South-East Brisbane Bananabenders, Vale. Beyond even that, though it's to take a stand against unpredictable judgments of courts based on evidence that is unreliable.

PS I wonder how many Sydney supporters were on that first Jury

 

[Westerndog11]

Thanks for the first clause, BD. When it's the expense of going to the High Court, it's beyond concern for the victim. If the Club and/or sympathetic supporters wish to contribute to a fund for Kneale, that's fine, probably toss in myself. The solicitors for Kneale have already, publicly, indicated they are about to commence proceedings on behalf of another 'victim'. If this happened in the 1980s, the club wouldn't exist (in your case, perhaps, a good result, you'd be supporting the Brisbane-Fitzroy-Footscray Bears-Lions-Bulldogs). If it happened to the Altona Vikings or the South-East Brisbane Bananabenders, Vale. Beyond even that, though it's to take a stand against unpredictable judgments of courts based on evidence that is unreliable.

PS I wonder how many Sydney supporters were on that first Jury

Looks like Sydney might have their own case to answer for, they’re being sued for alleged abuse by a former coach.

 

[H Dolphin]

Looks like Sydney might have their own case to answer for, they’re being sued for alleged abuse by a former coach.

An old mate of mine has just seen his daughter through a marriage breakup and property settlement. His words "I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy" That applies to historic claims against football clubs like South Melbourne, even we didn't have to relocate interstate. If any of our playing list back in the '80s knew about Hobbs, indeed our Administration or supporters, this would have been long ago resolved.

 

[Hoges64]

Thanks for the first clause, BD. When it's the expense of going to the High Court, it's beyond concern for the victim. If the Club and/or sympathetic supporters wish to contribute to a fund for Kneale, that's fine, probably toss in myself. The solicitors for Kneale have already, publicly, indicated they are about to commence proceedings on behalf of another 'victim'. If this happened in the 1980s, the club wouldn't exist (in your case, perhaps, a good result, you'd be supporting the Brisbane-Fitzroy-Footscray Bears-Lions-Bulldogs). If it happened to the Altona Vikings or the South-East Brisbane Bananabenders, Vale. Beyond even that, though it's to take a stand against unpredictable judgments of courts based on evidence that is unreliable.

PS I wonder how many Sydney supporters were on that first Jury

The Britzray BioDogs.

I'm all in.

 

[Generation West]

An old mate of mine has just seen his daughter through a marriage breakup and property settlement. His words "I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy" That applies to historic claims against football clubs like South Melbourne, even we didn't have to relocate interstate. If any of our playing list back in the '80s knew about Hobbs, indeed our Administration or supporters, this would have been long ago resolved.

I reckon a few people would have been suss on this bloke. I was part of the u19 squad for 2 seasons in the mid 80's and he (Hobbs) was always around.

Thankfully, I was 16 or 17 years old at the time and old enough not to be taken advantage of, but I always had my radar up around the guy. He was a nice enough fella, always up for a chat and was doing odd jobs around the place, but he was a scruffy, dirty looking bloke that I was never too sure about. It didn't register at the time, but I was not surprised when these awful things surfaced.

I would say that most people around the club where too focused on their job and we just weren't as aware of or alert to Paedophiles as we are today, so I don't blame the club or people involved at the time. I think most people would have thought him a bit odd, but he was a volunteer that donated hours of time each week doing the things that keep a struggling club afloat.

Feel for the victim.

 

[H Dolphin]

The Britzray BioDogs.

I'm all in.

Back in the merger mania days, the Coodabeens had a song about Northfootskildaroy.

 

[Dogs Rule]

I think the one thing we can all agree on is that ambulance chasing scumbag lawyers are human skid marks. They don't care about the victims or collateral damage it's purely about the $$$$