We have years of experience representing clients who need to sue the state for army abuse matters. For example, army abuse can include physical, mental and sexual assault and trauma. Unfortunately, these matters are much too common in Australia, with many past students suffering shocking abuse whilst in the care of our state.

Our lawyers offer a trauma-approach when dealing with clients who have suffered this terrible form of abuse. Our goal is to seek justice on your behalf and help you receive the compensation you deserve. 

The following case is another army abuse matter that took place at a well-known Army Apprentice School.

Army abuse case at apprentice school

Our client, James*, was an apprentice electrician at the Army Apprentice School. During his time there, James suffered serious physical and sexual abuse.

We found that the state owed a duty of care to these students as they were children housed at the time. However, as we have seen in multiple other scenarios, the staff allowed older students to have power over the younger ones.

For example, staff gave senior apprentices free reign to supervise the junior students. Unfortunately, some older students abused this power. As a result, a bullying and abusive culture developed, which staff did not discourage.

For James, the physical abuse included older students flipping him with his bed at nights on a weekly basis for a year. Additionally, senior students struck him with a boot filled laundry bag in the head. This particular assault rendered him unconscious. In addition, senior students hung James from the rafters and struck him in the stomach on at least 10 occasions.

As a result, these physical assaults caused James mental anguish and physical pain.

Student suing state for serious army abuse

However, physical assault was not the only for of army abuse. Additionally, older students sexually abused James. During his time at the school, he suffered from multiple, different types of unwanted sexual acts at the hands of senior apprentices. Therefore, these situations were very traumatic for James.

Our lawyer found that the defendant’s actions were intentional acts done with the intent to cause injury to our client. Ultimately, their actions were excluded from the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW). 

In the end, the case settled in favour of our client. The court awarded James for the trauma and pain he suffered at the school.

Civil Lawyer for Suing state for army abuse – physical and sexual

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