A Tasmanian judge has awarded a woman $1.6 million in damages after she sued her former schoolteacher for allegedly sexually abusing her in the 1980s.
Stephen Fane Noga, 76, was sued by one of his former Hobart Matriculation College students, now aged in her 60s.
Mr Noga denied that he sexually abused the alleged victim while she was his 16-year-old student, but said they had consensual sex twice after she graduated. (ABC News: Scout Wallen)
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She also sued the State of Tasmania for allegedly failing in its duty of care.
The month-long civil trial began in April, during which the plaintiff told the court that the alleged sexual abuse began when she was his 16-year-old student.
Mr Noga denied the allegations that he sexually abused her while she was his student.
He has said that they had sex twice in the months after she graduated, once she had turned 17, and that their relationship rekindled five years later.
Chief Justice Stephen Estcourt handed down his decision in the Supreme Court in Hobart on Monday, during which he ordered the State of Tasmania and Mr Noga to jointly pay the plaintiff $1.4 million.
Mr Noga was also ordered to pay a further $200,000.
In the calculation of damages, Justice Estcourt included:
$275,000 for pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life$800,000 for impairment of earning capacity$33,000 for past and future medical and associated expenses
The plaintiff also sued the State of Tasmania, for allegedly failing in its duty of care. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
Plaintiff terminally ill
Speaking outside court, the plaintiff’s solicitor Angela Sdrinis said the plaintiff’s terminal illness made the ordeal very difficult.
Justice Stephen Estcourt handed down his decision in the Hobart Supreme Court today. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
“Six and a half days of cross-examination is absolutely brutal, and certainly in my client’s position with a terminal illness… is extremely traumatic,” Ms Sdrinis said.
“For her, the money is important because it is the tangible acknowledgement of wrongdoing, but it is about justice before she dies.”
“I think this judgment entirely vindicates her in wanting to pursue this action.”
Ms Sdrinis said very few matters like this ever go to trial.
“Hundreds are issued every year and only a handful go to verdict,” she said.
“It is hard, it is really hard for plaintiffs, it is hard to talk about these things.”
The parties have seven days to lodge appeals, and the full judgment is expected to be released soon.