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AAP
AAP
National
Cassandra Morgan

Woman sexually abused by teacher awarded extra $113,000

Abuse victim Katrina Munting sued the state of Tasmania and her former high school science teacher. (Ethan James/AAP PHOTOS)

A woman sexually abused by her childhood teacher in Tasmania has been awarded an extra $113,000 by a judge after she was granted more than $2 million in a legal fight.

Katrina Munting sued the state of Tasmania and her former Rose Bay High School science teacher Marcus James Pollard after he abused her in the late 1990s.

He was ultimately sentenced to three years' jail for his crimes after pleading guilty in 2020.

Mrs Munting claimed in the Supreme Court of Tasmania she was unable to reach her full potential because of the abuse and Justice David Porter ultimately accepted the state - as Pollard's employer - was vicariously liable for it.

Justice Porter awarded Mrs Munting $2,016,135 in damages on June 17, with about $1.38 million accounting for her lost past and future earnings.

The judge amended the figure to $2,129,595 on Monday after Mrs Munting's lawyers pointed out he miscalculated interest she was owed on lost income.

Mrs Munting's abuse was brought to the attention of the school's then-principal and senior education department figures in February 2000, the judge found.

Soon after, Pollard was effectively suspended and he resigned in April 2000.

Tasmania Police was not notified and no complaint was brought to their attention until Mrs Munting began criminal proceedings in November 2018.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

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