Knox sued for $1m over inaction on sex victim Saffron Howden

In a new turn of events which just seem to go from bad to worse for know grammar school, the school is now being sued for more than $1 million over claims it neglected its duty of care to one alleged victim. In a statement of claim filed in the Supreme Court, a 40-year-old man, accused the North Shore private school of failing to provide a safe environment to ensure ”he was not exposed to the risk of sexual predation by teachers”.

As an employer, Know is obligated to provide a safe environment for anyone in public and the claim is that Knox failed to investigate complaints of abuse and was vicariously liable for some teachers’ conduct. Five former teachers have been charged with child sex offences dating back to the 1970s and ’80s. Of those, four have acknowledged guilt. Most recently, Adrian John Nisbett, 61, yesterday admitted to sexual assault to three boys then aged 16 and 17. The man suing the school states that when he was in years 5 and 6, a teacher twice groped his genitals in public. In the first instance another teacher watched on but did nothing, he said in a statement of claim.

”[The teacher] demonstrated to the school community a … tendency to inappropriately touch students by purporting to tuck their shirts into their trousers, fondling and by other means as opportunity presented,” his claim stated.

The man is now a disability pensioner living with depression caused, he said, by the damage and injury he suffered as a result of the alleged assaults.

”Their conduct was not in any way circumscribed or curtailed by the first defendant [Knox] despite its … nature and even when observed by other staff members,” he alleged. His total claim against the school and one former teacher is expected to amount to more than $1 million.

”It takes courage for our client to pursue his rights against the school and the teacher directly involved,” Ross Koffel, the director of law firm Koffels, said.