Call for Witnesses – Robert “Dolly” Dunn
"CALL FOR WITNESSES TO COME FORWARD” Robert "Dolly" Dunn and the Marist Brothers Schools PH: 02 9283 5599 Robert “Dolly” Dunn Robert “Dolly” Dunn was a former school teacher at Marist College Penshurst where he was continuously employed from 1971 to 1987. Dunn is known as a notorious paedophile and drug dealer who had a long history of abusing boys between the ages of 7 and 15 years old....
Call for Witnesses – Kostka Chute
“CALL FOR WITNESSES TO COME FORWARD” “Brother Kostka Chute and the Marist Brothers Schools” PH: 02 9283 5599 John William Chute, also known by his religious name as Brother Kostka, was a teacher and principal at a large number of schools operated by the Marist Brothers in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. He was a sexual predator who abused numerous young boys over...
Cross Border Family Law Disputes
Family Law Disputes That Stretch Across Borders Can Be Complicated - What Can You Do About It? The multi-national makeup of Australia is creating a need for access to experienced legal advice covering a range of jurisdictions. Whether it is a dispute over; child custody, enforcement of child support payments cross-border, or resolution of property settlements that include assets in locations other than Australia, we can...
If you signed a Deed, is it always binding?
To Victims of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse: If you signed a Deed, is it always binding? Not always. We are repeatedly hearing stories of victims of childhood institutional abuse who over the years have received paltry payouts from their abusers after signing a Deed, declaring that they will no longer pursue the institution for further claims, and entering into a non-disclosure agreement. In many circumstances these...
Whistleblower New Laws 1 July 2019
Whistleblower New Laws - 1 July 2019 Whistleblower protection laws aim to encourage disclosures that are in the public interest. In response to increased public desire for companies to be more accountable for their activities, the Australian government has acted to widen the scope of the federal whistleblower protection laws. As a result, the whistleblowing scheme in Part 9.4AAA of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)...
Clergy is not Above the Law
The Clergy is not Above the Law: The Pope Introduces Mandatory Reporting for Allegations of Sexual Assault and Child Abuse In February 2019, Pope Francis announced that he would mandate the reporting of sexual assault and child abuse by the clergy and church officials. Pope Francis released an Apostolic Letter which reads, “The crimes of sexual abuse offend Our Lord, cause physical, psychological and spiritual damage...
Technology Giving Law Firms The Edge
On March of this year, 2019, we were asked by our IR Global colleagues Herrington & Carmichael LLP in the U.K. to assist in facilitating a remote hearing for the local Tribunal Court and their client. The client had recently moved internationally cross border to Australia. This meant she was unable attend court due to her great distance from the Tribunal hearing. Using technology...
Call for Witnesses – Errol Swain
“CALL FOR WITNESSES TO COME FORWARD” “Errol Swain and the De La Salle schools” PH: 02 9283 5599 Errol Swain “Anything discussed will be absolutely CONFIDENTIAL and if you wish completely ANONYMOUS. We have over 40 separate cases against De La Salle for institutional sexual abuse from 1967 to 1985. We ask the community to step forward to attest to the actions of Errol Swain and the Brothers. Anything you saw...
South Australian School Teacher Jailed
Former South Australian School Teacher Jailed for Abusing Students Stephen John Hamra, a former primary school teacher at St Ignatius College and Christian Brothers College in South Australia has been found guilty of persistent sexual exploitation of a child and maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child between 1977 and 1982. He was sentenced by Adelaide District Court Judge Paul Rice on the 4 April...
Pseudonyms in Historic Child Sexual Abuse
The Use of Suppression Orders and Pseudonyms in Historic Child Sexual Abuse Cases A common barrier to seeking compensation for people who have suffered sexual abuse as a child in institutional settings is a sense of fear. Additionally embarrassment or shame occur at the prospect of being identified as a victim/survivor of child sexual abuse. The decision to seek redress for historic child sexual abuse...
Equestrian Safety – Generational Change Needed
Please see original article published in The Australian newspaper on 15 April 2019 here: https://koffels.com.au/official-warned-riders-risk-more-falls/ Generational Change Needed to Bring Equestrian Safety into 21st Century Koffels Solicitors & Barristers view with interest and applaud the article in The Australian on the 15 April 2019 regarding safety protocol at Equestrian Events, and specifically in Eventing. We have long held the view that the standards within equestrian sports...
Paedophilia in Private Schools
To read the original article published in The SMH and written by Peter FitzSimons, please click here. Is paedophilia more prevalent in private schools? Recently a number of our clients spoke to Peter FitzSimons about the abuse they say they suffered at the hands of Knox teachers. As a matter of fact paedophilia in private religious schools has been an ongoing issue for some time. Correspondingly...
Knox Grammar Sued for Child Sexual Abuse
To read the original article published in The Australian newspaper and written by Olivia Caisley, please click here. Knox Faces Payout Claim Our client, Phillip Ashworth, spoke to The Australian about what he asserts happened to him as a student at Knox Grammar. Phillip’s statement of claim alleges: "Nisbett used his position of authority to groom Mr Ashworth by regularly spending “private time” with him when he was...
Institutions Blocking Legal Advice
Institutions are Actively Trying to Keep Claimants from Instructing Koffels, and we couldn't be more flattered. Koffels Solicitors & Barristers are achieving the highest and most consistent level of payouts in Australia, and needless to say the institutions are not happy with us. How do we do it?... Koffels have taken a totally different approach when it comes to taking action against an institution for Childhood...
Mosman Swim Teacher – Sexual Abuse
Mosman Swim Teacher - Alleged Child Sex Abuse In this case the Sydney swim instructor Kyle James Henk Daniels, twenty (20) years old, has now had an additional twenty-eight (28) charges of sexual abuse laid against him in court. This has been a result of sexual abuse allegations made by students at the Mosman Swim Centre located on Vista Street in the prestigious suburb of Mosman in Sydney. The...
