Teacher Peter Doulis has been awarded and additional $550,000 in future lost income by the Melbourne Supreme Court this week. Earlier this month, Mr Doulis was awarded $770,000 in compensation after he successfully sued the state for breaching their duty of care.
Mr Doulis’ mental sate severely deteriorated when he was allocated too many unruly classes at Werribee Secondary College.
His total settlement is now $1.279 million, quite high for a personal injury case. The state is also expected to pay Mr Doulis’ legal fees of about $380,000.
Mr Doulis hasn’t been able to work as a teacher since 2004 when his health severely deteriorated after his pleas to the school’s management fell on deaf ears.
He told the court he was forced to teach classes that included students who had ADHD, autism, dyslexia and acquired brain injuries.
The court found the school, and therefore the state, had breached its duty by not removing Mr Doulis from the challenging classes.
The payout is subject to if the state government appeals the judgement in two weeks. Premier Denis Napthine says the government would examine its decision before deciding on whether to appeal.