Zantuck wins court bid, can sue Richmond for alleged negligence- The age | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Zantuck wins court bid, can sue Richmond for alleged negligence- The age

Former Richmond footballer Ty Zantuck has won a “landmark” decision in the Victorian Supreme Court giving him more time to prosecute his claims against the Tigers for a back injury and repeated head trauma.

Associate Justice Mary-Jane Ierodiaconou released her findings on Tuesday, after Zantuck sued the club and two doctors – current club doctor Greg Hickey and former club doctor Chris Bradshaw – over allegations they breached their duty of care in the treatment of his back injury when he played in 68 matches for the Tigers between 2000 and 2004.

His lawyers, using video evidence of several clashes, had also told the court that Zantuck had endured multiple concussions, leaving him with brain trauma. Zantuck has previously spoken of having had suicidal thoughts.

antuck’s lawyer Lachlan Armstrong QC had argued for an extension to be granted to the statute of limitations for bringing a civil claim. This argument was rejected by lawyers acting for the Tigers, who said it was “very significantly out of time”.

However, Justice Ierodiaconou concluded her 49 pages of findings by saying: “Mr Zantuck’s application to extend time in relation to both the back injury and concussion claims is allowed. I will give the parties an opportunity to make submissions on orders consequential to this ruling.”
Zantuck’s agent Peter Jess said the decision was a “landmark finding” and the “AFL’s worst nightmare”.
“It could lead to more cases by former players,” Jess told The Age.
“This is a landmark decision for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it recognises Ty is an employee of Richmond, which then means it addresses the issues in the Agar v Hyde duty of care court case which has been the moat for the AFL.
“Up until now, the defence was that you, as a player, knew it was a dangerous sport, so you knew what you were getting into. The two exceptions were that if you were an employee and if there was negligence. It’s now been found Ty was an employee, so he can be the first player to take action this way.”

Zantuck, who had been close to tears when giving evidence in April when alleging the Tigers’ treatment had been “horribly wrong”, and the Tigers have been contacted for comment. The AFL did not wish to comment.

The concussion aspect of Zantuck’s case is only against the Tigers, and not specifically Dr Bradshaw and Dr Hickey. As part of Zantuck’s submission, neuropsychologist Associate Professor Jennifer Batchelor said she suspected Zantuck has the degenerative brain disease “traumatic encephalopathy syndrome” which was “evidence of acquired cognitive impairment”.

Justice Ierodiaconou said: “There is no evidence from any of the defendants that positively asserts or even suggests that RFC had a concussion management protocol in place at the time. There are just a couple of weekly notes.”
In his writ, Zantuck, 40, claims doctors gave him more than 20 epidural injections to ease his back pain and to keep training and playing, and that the club forced him to take part in a pre-season training camp that exacerbated his condition.

Justice Ierodiaconou ruled that “Mr Zantuck’s loss arising from the alleged injuries is substantial”.
“His evidence is that as a consequence of pain arising from his back injury, he has been unable to work in a stable job save for a six-month period in 2009. This has placed him in financial distress. Mr Zantuck’s back pain is such that he uses a spinal stimulator,” Justice Ierodiaconou said.

Another of Justice Ierodiaconou’s findings said: “The allegations in respect of both the brain injury and back injury are grave. Both allege repeated acts or omissions resulting in significant injury. I refer to the allegations of injections, and the allegations of a failure to have an adequate policy or system to manage concussion. These are factors that ‘should be brought into the evaluation’.”

Zantuck spent 2005 at Essendon where the court was told on Thursday that the Bombers refused to administer the epidural injections, prompting Zantuck to believe the Tigers had mistreated him. Zantuck’s AFL career ended after a fortnight of pre-season training at Carlton in 2006.

Lawyer Neill Murdoch, representing Dr Bradshaw, did not want Zantuck to be a treated as a “reliable” witness, while it was also argued the deaths of former Tigers coach Danny Frawley and former Essendon club doctor Bruce Reid could impact any further hearing. The Tigers say they do not keep “back-up of data” of former players beyond seven years.

“The decisions about the proper management of Mr Zantuck would have necessarily been informed by many intangible and impressionistic things including how he presented, how he moved, what he said or did not say, his overall fitness, and clinical course. All of the details and nuances of the player’s presentation, from week to week, and time to time, have been irretrievably lost in the intervening two decades,” the Tigers claimed.

While Justice Ierodiaconou acknowledged these arguments, they were not strong enough to dismiss the Zantuck case.

“In conclusion, I accept there is general prejudice arising from the elapse of time. Further, that there is specific prejudice arising from the death of witnesses and the loss of medical records. However, weighing these factors with the evidence that is available, I am not satisfied that the prejudice to the defendants is such that a fair trial cannot be held,” Justice Ierodiaconou said.
I epidural is dangereous. They give them to pregnant women during child birth.

20 epidurals in 5 years sounds full on. mind you they would be done in a hospital surely.4 times a season?
In Court RFC compare their medical records on other players with back injury.
Player and club both at fault .. the epidurals Must have worked.
The body being injured that many times is not great. Maybe epidurals have positives.

. Sports people are never 100,%. So at what point where player/club take responsibility for zantuck injury.

Yet EFC played zantuck for 2 years and he played in the edfl for 3 more years.
Half his career at Richmond. Sacked for poor behaviour. Not injury retired.

Then the concussion mismanaged by RFC. Watching the film Concussion.. zantuck might have cte symptoms.
No fun. But he hasn't suicided.

RFC could watch a video of him playing at EFC and Strathmore pick out concussions.

That lessens our culpability surely

Zantuck sounds a basket case. I guess Frawley and tuck are tragic. Tuck boxing post footy not the smartest idea. Missus should have put her foot down.
Now class action against AFL
 
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Zantuck coaching at Hailee berry is paid? His claim is he hasn't worked post football.
 
Interesting decision by Judge Judy, wonder if ex Hawk Mark Williams can now sue Zantuck after having his head slammed repeatedly into the MCG turf gettyimages-51202770-594x594.jpgby Ty.
 
EX-TIGER CAUGHT UP IN BOOZE SCANDAL

Exclusive - Susie O’Brien - Suzan Delibasic
Police are investigating alleged inappropriate conduct by former Richmond player Ty Zantuck at an alcohol-fuelled Haileybury College party last weekend after a complaint.
Zantuck is an assistant coach for the first boys’ football team at the prestigious school.
The referral concerns Zantuck’s alleged behaviour towards a teenage girl who was at the private event at which boys, family members, college staff and friends celebrated the boys’ Associated Public Schools premiership.
Mr Zantuck has been stood down by the school.
He did not respond to the Sunday Herald Sun’s inquiries on Saturday and was not present at the team’s match at Geelong College on Saturday.
The Sunday Herald Sun is not suggesting the allegations against Zantuck are true, only that they have been made and warrant investigation by police.
The party led to six Haileybury staff members being disciplined by the school for socialising with students.
Most of the students at the party were underage.
The team’s head coach, Essendon great Matthew Lloyd, who attended for an hour and a half, was also stood down for a few days over his presence at the party, but returned to coaching duties this weekend.
Independent MP Zoe Daniel, whose son is in the Haileybury firsts’ team, was not at the party.
But she said it was “appropriate” for the school to investigate the attendance of staff at a party with students.
Ms Daniel said: “Any allegation of inappropriate behaviour by a male staff member towards a female student should be taken very seriously, and in this case is rightly in the hands of police to investigate.
“The Bloods have had a brilliant season under the leadership of Matthew Lloyd. It’s sad to see their success tarnished by these events,” she said.
A statement from Haileybury issued on Friday said the school “was made aware that on Saturday night, after the APS football game, a group of parents organised an impromptu celebratory gathering with students”.
“The school has moved quickly to discipline those staff members involved and to ensure they uphold their professional obligations concerning social gatherings with parents and students,” it said.
In July last year, Zantuck won a legal bid to sue Richmond Football Club for compensation over debilitating back injuries and a suspected degenerative brain disease in a landmark decision that could pave the way for future claims.
Zantuck, who played 68 games for the Tigers in the early 2000s, claims he was allowed to continue to train and play AFL despite suffering repeated on-field head knocks that had not properly healed.
Haileybury College declined to comment further on Saturday.
Victoria Police were contacted for comment. Zantuck and Lloyd were also contacted for comment.
Despite a tumultuous week, Haileybury won Saturday’s match against Geelong College 13.18 (96) to 4.5 (29), completing a dominant season in which it was undefeated.



www.herald sun.com.au
Him being a *smile* doesn't invalidate that clubs & the league need to do better at looking after current players & making things right with past players, if it takes some lawsuits that some *smile* profit from to make it happen, then that's fine imo
 
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Him being a *smile* doesn't invalidate that clubs & the league need to do better at looking after current players & making things right with past players, if it takes some lawsuits that some *smile* profit from to make it happen, then that's fine imo
Not able to hold a job. Supports his claim of being unemployable.

Zantuck taking the route he has. Seems disingenuous.

Some judge just handed down a finding about CTE.

NFL paid compensation but their main change was introduce concussion protocol about the same level as the AFL has done.

The class action lawsuit continues.
 
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Not able to hold a job. Supports his claim of being unemployable.

Zantuck taking the route he has. Seems disingenuous.

Some judge just handed down a finding about CTE.

NFL paid compensation but their main change was introduce concussion protocol about the same level as the AFL has done.

The class action lawsuit continues.

Not able to hold a job apart from 6 months in 2009 but can still play high level suburban and country footy over a decade after finishing at Richmond.

He was still playing for Strathmore in 2013, Torquay in 2014 and St. Albans in the Geelong Footy League in 2015.

 
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Meh !!

Its only money
We have all seen when the clubs lose money they get more help from the AFL and clubs that are profitable get jack sheet
If Richmond lose the case and have to pay him $3 mil then we will just ask the AFL for more equalisation payments
 
I epidural is dangereous. They give them to pregnant women during child birth.

20 epidurals in 5 years sounds full on. mind you they would be done in a hospital surely.4 times a season?
In Court RFC compare their medical records on other players with back injury.
Player and club both at fault .. the epidurals Must have worked.
The body being injured that many times is not great. Maybe epidurals have positives.

. Sports people are never 100,%. So at what point where player/club take responsibility for zantuck injury.

Yet EFC played zantuck for 2 years and he played in the edfl for 3 more years.
Half his career at Richmond. Sacked for poor behaviour. Not injury retired.

Then the concussion mismanaged by RFC. Watching the film Concussion.. zantuck might have cte symptoms.
No fun. But he hasn't suicided.

RFC could watch a video of him playing at EFC and Strathmore pick out concussions.

That lessens our culpability surely

Zantuck sounds a basket case. I guess Frawley and tuck are tragic. Tuck boxing post footy not the smartest idea. Missus should have put her foot down.
Now class action against AFL
As I google it, multiple epidurals is not uncommon in treatment. 3 or 4 in a row.

The main risk of epidurals is paraplegia.

What the outcome. There will be appeals you'd think.
 
Not able to hold a job. Supports his claim of being unemployable.

Zantuck taking the route he has. Seems disingenuous.

Some judge just handed down a finding about CTE.

NFL paid compensation but their main change was introduce concussion protocol about the same level as the AFL has done.

The class action lawsuit continues.
didn't Sheedy say "he can't make up his mind whether he wants to be a gangstar or a footballer " ?
 
didn't Sheedy say "he can't make up his mind whether he wants to be a gangstar or a footballer " ?
Seem to remember that he was friendly with a couple of Moran's years back, family lived in the same street. Might be just as many after effects from Sat night partying as footy head knocks.
 
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Seem to remember that he was friendly with a couple of Moran's years back, family lived in the same street. Might be just as many after effects from Sat night partying as footy head knocks.
The street Mark Moran was shot in was suburbia, nothing gangster about it except the price. I used to walk past those streets to Essadon Station or Moonee Ponds station if I missed the bus.

I do recall Wayne Carey being called as a character witness for Jason I think. So Zantuck took speed/ecstsacy drugs at some stage in his youth?

Not the lone ranger there.

Again all of the "bad behaviour" might work in his favour, in his court case.

Caused by an egregious epidural regime invented by Dr Death there in a backyard, abortion clinic from the depression days
 
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