AUSTRALIA
The Guardian
Australian Associated Press
Wednesday 16 September 2015
A Melbourne Orthodox Jewish school that hired an Israeli headmistress accused of sexually abusing a student must pay more than $1.1m.
Adass Israel School and former headmistress Malka Leifer were sued by the ex-student who says she was sexually abused several times a week between 2003 and 2006.
The alleged abuse occurred in the headmistress’ home, at school camps and on school grounds.
The student, now aged in her 20s, was awarded compensation by judge John Rush who found the Elsternwick school was both “directly and vicariously liable for the conduct of Ms Leifer”.
Once allegations surfaced in 2008, Leifer was stood down by a committee linked to the school and plane tickets were purchased so she could quickly flee the country, the court heard.
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