Why Angela Sdrinis Legal is pursuing another AYDC Class Action
In 2024, Angela Sdrinis Legal (ASL) achieved settlement in the first class action issued in Tasmania in the amount of $75,000,000 for 129 claimants with respect to abuses experienced in the Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC 1). It is widely understood that this settlement allowed us to make some of the highest individual payments ever to be achieved in a class action in Australia that allowed many of our group members to change their lives and achieve financial and/or housing security for the first time.
Our class action settlement was also unique in that we applied for and obtained orders which provided for compulsory financial advice and financial counselling with our group members also being provided trauma support. The financial adviser that was appointed was able to provide advice as to how our group members best invest or deal with their lump sums and the financial counsellors provided practical advice and assistance including the setting up of bank accounts, managing Centrelink and other debts and generally supporting our clients in developing financial literacy. The trauma counsellors supported our clients in making decisions as to how best to move forward following what was for many of them a momentous settlement. We hope to improve on those processes in our further class actions. We know that many of our clients who ended up in youth detention have struggled with psychological and other issues which has resulted in a lack of life skills which is why we implemented systems to provide extra support following settlement of their claims.
Following settlement of AYDC 1, many former detainees who had missed out on participating in AYDC 1 came forward, hence our decision to pursue a further class action (AYDC 2).
ASL is still accepting new group members for AYDC 2. We are in the process of finalizing selection of our lead plaintiffs and we anticipate that AYDC 2 will be filed in the Tasmanian Supreme Court before the end of the year. We also expect that AYDC 2 will be able to be advanced quickly. We have the experience in AYDC 1 to guide us and we anticipate that the Tasmanian Government will co-operate in a fast track process whereby with the leave of the Court the parties can rely on much of the material that was exchanged in AYDC 1 which will reduce costs and delay.
ASL has also launched a class action in the Victorian Supreme Court seeking compensation for detainees who allege abuse in the Turana/Parkville Youth Detention Centre. Other class actions have been launched in other jurisdictions (South Australia and Western Australia) regarding alleged abuses in youth detention centers in those states. ASL is also accepting group members for the Victorian class action.
For further information about our class actions, visit our website or contact our office.