The Star 1Wednesday 28 April 2010
more than just a newspaper
Australia’s leading gay and lesbian newspaper Est.
1979 www.
starobserver.
com.
au Issue 1019 Wednesday 28 April 2010
$750,000
payout
for HIV
infectionANI LAMONT...
More
The Star 1Wednesday 28 April 2010
more than just a newspaper
Australia’s leading gay and lesbian newspaper Est.
1979 www.
starobserver.
com.
au Issue 1019 Wednesday 28 April 2010
$750,000
payout
for HIV
infectionANI LAMONT
ANSWmanhassuccessfullysuedhisex-boyfriend
for$750,000forknowinglyinfectinghimwithHIV.
In what is believed to be an Australian first, the
plaintiff, who cannot be named, was awarded
a range of damages by the court for his pain and
suffering,lossofincomeandlossoflifeexpectancy,
addinguptoatotalof$757,487.
In a rare move, the court apportioned $50,000
in exemplary damages as an expression of its
“disapprovalofdisgracefulconduct”.
Theplaintiffandthedefendant,whoalsocannot
be named, began a relationship in early 2004 and
hadrepeatedconversationsabouttheirHIVstatus.
The court accepted that the defendant assured he
was negative and, after consenting to engage in
unprotectedsex,theplaintiffcontractedHIV.
“When the doctor put his hand on my leg, I
just burst out crying,
Less
