Landmark Payout to Abuse Survivor Significantly Reduced, Western Bulldogs’ Majority Appeal Denied
Melbourne, Australia — In a significant legal ruling, the Western Bulldogs’ initial $5.9 million compensation payout to abuse survivor Adam Kneale was significantly reduced, though the Australian Football League club failed in its attempt to overturn the verdict entirely. The reduction follows an appeals court decision that deemed portions of the original amount “excessive.” Kneale was awarded the historic settlement in 2023 after a jury found the Bulldogs negligent concerning the abuse perpetrated by club volunteer Graeme Hobbs in the 1980s, marking it the largest amount ever granted to an abuse survivor in Australia. The … Read more