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  • Catholic Clergy Abuse - General
    Catholic Clergy Abuse - General
    Dr Viv Waller has acted in claims against Catholic Clergy since 1995. Waller Legal has recovered compensation for the victims of Catholic Priests such as Frs Baker, Ridsdale, Kevin O'Donnell, D'Cruz, Gannon, Glennon, Gubbels, Frank Klep, Bernard Day & Pidoto.
  • Catholic Clergy Abuse - Melbourne Response
    Catholic Clergy Abuse - Melbourne Response
    Melbourne Response is an alternative dispute resolution process designed to provide redress to victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by priests, religious and lay persons who fall within the jurisdiction of the Melbourne Archdiocese.
  • Civil Litigation
    Civil Litigation
    Civil Litigation in the County And Supreme Courts of Victoria. In our pursuit of justice for sexual assault survivors Waller Legal has run common law cases for compensation against; Individual offenders such as family members, teachers, doctors, psychologists and religious figures;
  • Claims for Indigenous & Travel to Remote Communities
    Claims for Indigenous & Travel to Remote Communities
    If you have been the victim of a crime of violence or sexual assault then please contact our office so we may assess your application and obtain financial assistance, counselling, medical or other expenses that may help with your recovery.
  • Royal Commission & Redress Schemes
    Royal Commission & Redress Schemes
    Established in January 2013, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is investigating how institutions like schools, churches and sporting groups responded to allegations of child sexual abuse.
  • Sentencing Act Applications
    Sentencing Act Applications
    If you have been the victim of a crime for which the offender was convicted please contact our office urgently. Any Sentencing Act Application for compensation must be made within 12 months of the date of the conviction.
  • State Ward Claims
    State Ward Claims
    Dr Viv Waller has acted for former wards of the state of Victoria since 1997 when she commenced group litigation on behalf of many former residents of the Ballarat Orphanage who were abused in care.
  • Victim of Crimes Assistance Tribunal
    Victim of Crimes Assistance Tribunal
    If you have been the victim of a crime of violence or sexual assault then please contact our office so we may assess your application and obtain financial assistance, counselling, medical or other expenses that may help with your recovery.

Catholic Clergy Abuse - General

Dr Viv Waller has acted in claims against Catholic Clergy since 1995. Waller Legal has recovered compensation for the victims of Catholic Priests such as Frs Baker, Ridsdale, Kevin O'Donnell, D'Cruz, Gannon, Glennon, Gubbels, Frank Klep, Bernard Day & Pidoto.

Catholic Clergy Abuse - General

Overview

Waller Legal has acted in claims against Catholic defendants since our beginning in 2007.  Although our work commenced in Victoria, we now act in clergy abuse matters across Australia.  We have helped our clients recover compensation for abuse by Catholic priests, brothers, nuns and lay people working within a Catholic institution.

We have negotiated compensation and assistance for close family members badly affected by the abuse of their loved one.  These are known as “secondary victim claims”. 

We are experienced in progressing these cases in various ways, including Supreme and County Court litigation, alternative dispute resolution (out of court discussions) and the Church’s own internal processes – either “Towards Healing” or the “Melbourne Response”.

Where we can show that a previous settlement was unfair, we have achieved a further “ex-gratia” payment of compensation for clients from some Catholic defendants.  

We have successfully recovered compensation for clients in claims against many Catholic entities, including the:

  • Christian Brothers
  • Diocese of Ballarat
  • Salesians of Don Bosco
  • Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
  • De La Salle Brothers
  • Passionist Brothers
  • Marist Brothers
  • Marist Fathers (or the Society of Mary)
  • Vincentians 
  • Redemptorists
  • Jesuits

 

The Christian Brothers

We have recovered compensation for hundreds of clients abused at Christian Brother schools and orphanages in Victoria and throughout Australia.

Initially the majority of claims arose from schools in Ballarat, such as St Alipius and St Patrick’s College.  These cases related to sexual predators such as Christian Brother Robert Charles Best, Ted Dowlan (now known as Ted Bales) and Leo Fitzgerald.  

In more recent times we have acted and continue to act for a large number of clients who came to Australia as child migrants from the United Kingdom, Malta and other countries and who were then abused in Christian Brother run institutions in Western Australia, including Tardun, Bindoon, Clontarf and Castledare.

We have achieved compensation for former students of Parade College, St Leo’s Christian Brother College Box Hill, Therry College Broadmeadows (later known as Penola Catholic College) and other schools.  We have also successfully obtained compensation for clients abused by lay teachers in Christian Brother schools.

We have also run many successful claims for former state wards abused at St Augustine’s Boys’ Home in Geelong and St Vincent Boys’ Home in South Melbourne.  We have achieved compensation for clients abused in orphanages by various Christian Brothers including Brothers Eastmure, McGee, Hackett, Alford and Houston.

Top Ups

Where we are able to establish that a previously settled Christian Brother matter was resolved unfairly, or the Towards Healing process was flawed, we have been successful in obtaining a further “ex-gratia” payments for clients.

Secondary Victims

In some circumstances we can negotiate compensation and assistance for close family members badly affected by the abuse of their loved one.  Secondary victims can include a parent, partner or child of the person abused.

 

The Diocese of Ballarat

The Diocese of Ballarat includes fifty-one parishes that cover the western third of Victoria, extending from the Murray River in the North to the Southern Ocean in the South.

We act for victims abused by clergy of The Diocese of Ballarat including people harmed by notorious convicted child sex offender Father Gerald Ridsdale.

We currently act in cases issued in the Supreme Court of Victoria against Bishop Ronald Austin Mulkearns, former Bishop of the Diocese of Ballarat, on behalf survivors of sexual abuse perpetrated by Ridsdale.

 

The Salesians of Don Bosco

We act for clients who were abused at Rupertswood Salesian College in Sunbury and St Joseph’s Regional College in Ferntree Gully.

Our clients’ claims relate to abuse by Father Frank Klep, Father Julian Fox, former Father David Rapson, Father Michael Aulsebrook and others.

 

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC)

We have recovered compensation for victims abused at Monivae College in Hamilton by different members of the MSC including convicted child sex offender Brother Edward Mamo.


The De La Salle Brothers

We have recovered compensation for victims abused at different De La Salle run schools including at St Joseph’s primary school and De La Salle College in Malvern, Victoria.

Allegations have related to Brother Anselm (Tom Hallam) and Brother Ibar (Frank Keating).

 

The Marist Brothers

We act for clients who were abused by different members of the Marist Brothers including convicted sex offender Brother Gerard McNamara.

 

Victims fear alleged 'cover-up' of sexual abuse will not be revealed - Gregg Borschmann, aired on Radio National Breakfast, 5 April 2016

 

If you wish to investigate a potential civil claim against a Catholic organisation, please call us on 03 9415 9999 to have a confidential discussion about your options.
In pursuit of justice
In The News
Testimonials

  • You are a wonderful warrior for truth and justice.

    Mary

  • Thank you so much for all of your hard work this year getting my VOCAT application together, and for the fantastic outcome. While I am still dealing with the emotional ramifications of what happened to me, I now feel like I have the means to continue rebuilding myself and my life. Thank you.

    CC

  • It is with both great relief and admiration that I write this letter to you. A consummate professional and an amazingly beautiful human being you are. Thank you for doing such an exemplary job in resolving these issues for me, and supporting me with both compassion and instruction as my representative throughout this ordeal. I am painfully aware that no amount of retribution / compensation can replace what was taken, but I am hoping it can propel myself forward to achieve some sort of normality in my life. With respect and gratitude.

    JZ

  • I feel so fortunate to have gone through this with you and your great team.

    The delicate way you approach very sensitive issues made this whole process a lot more comfortable than I would ever have imagined.  I will forever be grateful to you and your amazing team for taking my case.

    From me and all the other survivors, thank you so much.

    N,M,J

  • What Dr Waller has achieved for me is nothing short of a miracle.  At the age of 60 I was feeling very upset at the abuse that I had encountered as a very young girl at the hands of a Salesian Brother.  My dealings with the Salesians many years later to try and resolve the matter left a very bitter taste in my mouth.  In fact, they made me feel abused all over again.  Vivian Waller was referred to me by Broken Rites, and that was the day my life changed.  I am so grateful that my words feel a little trite.

    Vivian has a no nonsense approach, keeps you on track, is honest, and like a dog with a bone, she keeps you going to have the desired outcome.  The world needs more Vivians.  Myself and my family are forever grateful to you.  Thanks mate, you’re my hero.

    Cathie

  • Yes indeed, thank you Vivian for your perseverance and dedication in doing whatever you can to bring about some justice in the absence of a full ecclesiastical council/court to judge publicly those who have violated not only the natural law, but the law of God in whose name these violations have taken place.

    Kathleen

  • I do not think that words can fully express my gratitude, but I will try.  It took me a number of years to decide to proceed with legal action for my abuse claim.  I had heard about Waller Legal from a friend and I must say that all he said was correct, in that they are awesome, sympathetic, etc.  But not ever what he told me prepared me for the experience that I had dealing with Waller Legal.  Firstly, Elisa.  You are a lovely empathetic soul who I truly felt comfortable dealing with.  You were even able to make me laugh on my down days of going through and discussing legal issues pertaining to my case.  It was a pleasure dealing with you. Thank you so much.

    Vivian Waller you too are amazing both as a person and as a legal representative.  I felt so comfortable with you from our very first meeting.  You spoke like a sister to me, not just as a lawyer.  Your legal ability is truly outstanding and you represented me with 110% effort always.  You made the hearing easy for me, as I had total confidence in you.

    For everyone who is hesitant to make a claim against an abuser, please do not hesitate to have Vivian and her staff represent you.  Truly amazing people.  Thanks so much again.

    JF

  • Viv Waller spent many hours over months gathering, sorting and preparing our evidence and my statement - a statement which was webcast around Australia and the world. 

    Viv Waller has spent her professional career solely helping and assisting people who were sexually assaulted as children by those in religious organisations.  In so many cases she had taken the power from the perpetrator and given it back to the survivor.

    Viv Waller’s work is essential.  Her guidance, abilities and professionalism lead me through a most overwhelming and daunting task which I can only thank her for.

    Chrissie Foster

  • Many thanks to you and your team for the positive outcome regarding the Anglican Church of Melbourne.

    Although nothing will erase the memories and feelings I still harbour, I at least now feel somewhat satisfied that I have had a win in all of this.

    Mark White

  • As a mother, I write to express my gratitude to you and your team for the support of my daughter following her sexual assault three years ago.  Although the bloke who assaulted her was not charged the dollars being awarded to her following your intervention certainly acknowledges the wrong that was done – and will I hope, help her to move on.  Thank you for the work you do.  With much gratitude and appreciation.

    PS
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