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cinderboy · 05-15-2007, 04:43 AM

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/...995042035.html

Above: Benjamin and his mother, Angela, at court in February.

Bullied teen awarded income for life

A bullied teenager will receive substantial damages and an income for life after a Supreme Court judge found NSW educational authorities failed in their duty of care to deal with playground assaults and bullying.

Benjamin Cox's mother, Angela, sued the State of NSW on behalf of the Hunter Valley teenager.

He will receive at least $220,000 for pain and suffering.

She said the bullying, which started in infants school, had resulted in her son having little education and being unable to work.

Outside court his barrister, Dennis Wheelahan, QC, said the judgement had implications for the education system.

"The implications are that pupils in our school systems who are the subject of this type of conduct [if liability is established] can expect to recover substantial damages as is the case for Benjamin Cox."

In her judgement, delivered today, Justice Carolyn Simpson commented that Mr Cox's "adolescence has been all but destroyed; his adulthood will not be any better. He will never know the satisfaction of employment. He will suffer anxiety and depression, almost certainly, for the rest of his life".

During the case, the judge heard that, while at Woodberry Public School in 1995, Mr Cox was "throttled" by an older boy, and received compensation from the Victims Compensation Tribunal over the attack. By the time he went to high school, his mother said he thought school a "scary proposition".

"He didn't like crowds, he didn't like teachers, didn't like the work," she said.

The court heard Mr Cox, who is now 18, was a virtual recluse. He had only completed schooling up until the end of year 7, and an attempt at home schooling had failed.

His mother said he rarely went out, had no friends, and was on a pension.

"He just locks himself in his room playing PlayStation games," she said.

AAP reports: While the exact amount of damages has not yet been calculated, Mr Cox's legal team expects it to be about $1 million, thought to be a record in a school bullying case.

Today's climax of the case coincided with a Federal Government move to give teachers and principals more power to address schoolyard bullying, and provide parents with more information about discipline, bullying and poor behaviour.

Mr Cox's case might also open the way for substantial damages awards for other bullying victims, lawyers said.

Mrs Cox gave evidence of her son becoming "absolutely petrified" of going to school, particularly after his tormentor tried to strangle him in February 1995.

When she complained about the school's inaction, she said a Department of Education officer told her "bullying builds character".

Her son continued to have nightmares and headaches, cried all the time and developed a severe stutter.

The little boy refused to use public toilets after telling his mother the older pupil jumped out from buildings - including the school toilets - and scared him.

Once she was called to the school office to find her son crying, with a lower tooth missing and a bleeding lip.

He told her the older boy had "tried to shove his jumper down his throat".

Justice Simpson accepted Mr Cox was subjected to "harassment, bullying and assault" at the hands of the other boy.

She also accepted that Mrs Cox made repeated attempts to have the school authorities intervene and control the conduct of the other boy.

"The staff made no attempt to deal with a serious problem," the judge added.

"The school authorities responded quite inadequately to an escalating problem and failed to take such steps as were reasonably required to protect [Mr Cox] from the conduct of a plainly behaviourally disturbed older pupil."

When Mrs Cox took her son out of the school in September 1995, she told the principal she was not going to submit him to any more bullying or hurting.

She said the principal told her: "You lose some kids and keep some."

Justice Simpson accepted psychiatric evidence that Mr Cox had been a "very vulnerable" boy, having a genetic predisposition to depression or other such conditions.

But she also accepted that the bullying was the initiating factor that led to his current condition - variously described as separation anxiety disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

ddldave · 05-15-2007, 04:59 AM

rofl, i what a lucky mother****er

Xynh · 05-15-2007, 05:00 AM

Omg, someone.. Bully me.

Bob_Bobberson · 05-15-2007, 05:44 AM

this is a bunch of bullshit, I have been scorned and bullied my whole life yet no one pays me 1million >_<

Khanstruct · 05-15-2007, 05:46 AM

What the hell! Now kids are actually getting paid to be anti-social nerds!? I was an anti-social nerd! Where's my cut?

This is truly the beginning of the end. We're now catering to and encouraging weakness and retraction from society. I don't think bully's should be ignored, but they're only half of the problem. I really don't think this kids inability to act should be met with a "poor baby. How about some milk and cookies? Or a million dollars. Will that make it all better?"

Onii-San · 05-15-2007, 06:20 AM

poor kid.

He deserves it.

kfckaykay · 05-15-2007, 06:40 AM

Sometimes life is this bad for people like him, If I were someone at his school and hears that 'older kid' bullies him, I would take a knife and stab every single one of the bullying kids, and yet feel no remorse, no pain or regret- people like them deserves no right to live their life.

Khanstruct · 05-15-2007, 06:45 AM

Heh, but you do? You think that's noble, but its just an emotional response making you no better than the bully...worse actually. Grow up.

cinderboy · 05-15-2007, 07:17 AM

Too much $ I think ... should send social workers to help him and transfer him to a new school, new enviroment to let him start anew. Teach him morals, how to make friends etc. If ya dont teach him now, he will be in a closet forever~

Frenkz · 05-15-2007, 08:00 AM

Quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Too much $ I think ... should send social workers to help him and transfer him to a new school, new enviroment to let him start anew. Teach him morals, how to make friends etc. If ya dont teach him now, he will be in a closet forever~

There's things that can't be erased... Look This guy is one of the unluckiest guy on the world... He's ugly, and no one helped him. I also been bullied till i was 15 and knifed three guys who were about to mess up with me. (They sued me, I won). Since this day i never let anyone else bully me, and of course I'm not using knives

(Well I do love knives !!

JK)

But yeah this guy does deserve a compensation... 1 million is big, yeah true, but still no one should be treated like this...

Some are strong-minded that just... get out of it... Others perish in this endless circle...
____

Though as I'm looking the pic... and this part of the text

Quote:

In her judgement, delivered today, Justice Carolyn Simpson commented that Mr Cox's "adolescence has been all but destroyed; his adulthood will not be any better. He will never know the satisfaction of employment. He will suffer anxiety and depression, almost certainly, for the rest of his life".

Well his anxiety, and depression seems to be gone, According to his smile :O!

05-15-2007, 04:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
cinderboy The Beast of the East Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Internetz Posts: 13,172 Reputation: 228	Bullied teen awarded income for life http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/...995042035.html Above: Benjamin and his mother, Angela, at court in February. Bullied teen awarded income for life A bullied teenager will receive substantial damages and an income for life after a Supreme Court judge found NSW educational authorities failed in their duty of care to deal with playground assaults and bullying. Benjamin Cox's mother, Angela, sued the State of NSW on behalf of the Hunter Valley teenager. He will receive at least $220,000 for pain and suffering. She said the bullying, which started in infants school, had resulted in her son having little education and being unable to work. Outside court his barrister, Dennis Wheelahan, QC, said the judgement had implications for the education system. "The implications are that pupils in our school systems who are the subject of this type of conduct [if liability is established] can expect to recover substantial damages as is the case for Benjamin Cox." In her judgement, delivered today, Justice Carolyn Simpson commented that Mr Cox's "adolescence has been all but destroyed; his adulthood will not be any better. He will never know the satisfaction of employment. He will suffer anxiety and depression, almost certainly, for the rest of his life". During the case, the judge heard that, while at Woodberry Public School in 1995, Mr Cox was "throttled" by an older boy, and received compensation from the Victims Compensation Tribunal over the attack. By the time he went to high school, his mother said he thought school a "scary proposition". "He didn't like crowds, he didn't like teachers, didn't like the work," she said. The court heard Mr Cox, who is now 18, was a virtual recluse. He had only completed schooling up until the end of year 7, and an attempt at home schooling had failed. His mother said he rarely went out, had no friends, and was on a pension. "He just locks himself in his room playing PlayStation games," she said. AAP reports: While the exact amount of damages has not yet been calculated, Mr Cox's legal team expects it to be about $1 million, thought to be a record in a school bullying case. Today's climax of the case coincided with a Federal Government move to give teachers and principals more power to address schoolyard bullying, and provide parents with more information about discipline, bullying and poor behaviour. Mr Cox's case might also open the way for substantial damages awards for other bullying victims, lawyers said. Mrs Cox gave evidence of her son becoming "absolutely petrified" of going to school, particularly after his tormentor tried to strangle him in February 1995. When she complained about the school's inaction, she said a Department of Education officer told her "bullying builds character". Her son continued to have nightmares and headaches, cried all the time and developed a severe stutter. The little boy refused to use public toilets after telling his mother the older pupil jumped out from buildings - including the school toilets - and scared him. Once she was called to the school office to find her son crying, with a lower tooth missing and a bleeding lip. He told her the older boy had "tried to shove his jumper down his throat". Justice Simpson accepted Mr Cox was subjected to "harassment, bullying and assault" at the hands of the other boy. She also accepted that Mrs Cox made repeated attempts to have the school authorities intervene and control the conduct of the other boy. "The staff made no attempt to deal with a serious problem," the judge added. "The school authorities responded quite inadequately to an escalating problem and failed to take such steps as were reasonably required to protect [Mr Cox] from the conduct of a plainly behaviourally disturbed older pupil." When Mrs Cox took her son out of the school in September 1995, she told the principal she was not going to submit him to any more bullying or hurting. She said the principal told her: "You lose some kids and keep some." Justice Simpson accepted psychiatric evidence that Mr Cox had been a "very vulnerable" boy, having a genetic predisposition to depression or other such conditions. But she also accepted that the bullying was the initiating factor that led to his current condition - variously described as separation anxiety disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. __________________

05-15-2007, 05:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
Khanstruct 500+ Posts???? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: WI, USA Posts: 515 Reputation: 0	What the hell! Now kids are actually getting paid to be anti-social nerds!? I was an anti-social nerd! Where's my cut? This is truly the beginning of the end. We're now catering to and encouraging weakness and retraction from society. I don't think bully's should be ignored, but they're only half of the problem. I really don't think this kids inability to act should be met with a "poor baby. How about some milk and cookies? Or a million dollars. Will that make it all better?" __________________ http://www.pillar4.com/ "Don't worry about people stealing an idea. If it's original, you will have to ram it down their throats." ~ Howard Aiken

05-15-2007, 06:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
Onii-San Lives in City of Zeroes Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 642 Reputation: 10	poor kid. He deserves it. __________________ "Thank goodness I have W-Blue Sky lives."

05-15-2007, 06:40 AM	#7 (permalink)
kfckaykay Shadowsworn's Sandwich Join Date: May 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,833 Reputation: 10	Sometimes life is this bad for people like him, If I were someone at his school and hears that 'older kid' bullies him, I would take a knife and stab every single one of the bullying kids, and yet feel no remorse, no pain or regret- people like them deserves no right to live their life. __________________ Current

05-15-2007, 06:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
Khanstruct 500+ Posts???? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: WI, USA Posts: 515 Reputation: 0	Heh, but you do? You think that's noble, but its just an emotional response making you no better than the bully...worse actually. Grow up. __________________ http://www.pillar4.com/ "Don't worry about people stealing an idea. If it's original, you will have to ram it down their throats." ~ Howard Aiken

05-15-2007, 04:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
ddldave Banned Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 197 Reputation: 10	rofl, i what a lucky mother****er

05-15-2007, 05:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
Xynh Roon's Rogue Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 4,260 Reputation: 132	Omg, someone.. Bully me.

05-15-2007, 05:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bob_Bobberson Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fghanistan Posts: 142 Reputation: 10	this is a bunch of bullshit, I have been scorned and bullied my whole life yet no one pays me 1million >_<

05-15-2007, 07:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
cinderboy The Beast of the East Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Internetz Posts: 13,172 Reputation: 228	Too much $ I think ... should send social workers to help him and transfer him to a new school, new enviroment to let him start anew. Teach him morals, how to make friends etc. If ya dont teach him now, he will be in a closet forever~ __________________

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