Campagnolo faces mounting legal bill

Campagnolo faces mounting legal bill

After over two years battling through Victoria’s legal system for justice, sacked bisexual football trainer Ken Campagnolo has been hit with a legal bill totalling over $20,000.
Campagnolo was in the Supreme Court last week to force law firm Middletons to produce an itemised bill of costs for a case he lost against the Benalla and District Football League.
“I wouldn’t pay an electricity bill without seeing what I’m paying for, so why would I pay this,” he said.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Melissa Daly ordered Campagnolo’s request be dismissed last Wednesday and said she wouldn’t force Middletons to produce an itemised bill as the additional cost to do so wouldn’t be in Campagnolo’s interests.
Campagnolo received a letter dated September 4 requesting he pay legal costs of $26,442.75. The letter said $20,000 would be accepted.
Middletons have raised doubts about Campagnolo’s ability to pay as he is living in Salvation Army crisis accommodation in Melbourne and is on Centrelink payments. It remains up to the law firm whether they pursue costs.
Campagnolo said he was bewildered by the decision as the threat of having to pay the sum remains. He is unsure whether he’ll be chased for payment.
“It’s just hanging over my head indefinitely now,” he said as he left court last week.
Campagnolo is placing his last hope for action over the sacking in a VCAT case against the Bonnie Doon Football Club later this year.
Since his sacking in 2007, Campagnolo has taken legal action against the AFL, the Victorian Country Football League, the Benalla and District Football League and the Bonnie Doon Football Club.
Bonnie Doon Football Club president Terry Dale has admitted having a private discussion with Campagnolo on April 10, 2007 in which he told Campagnolo he could no longer be a trainer. Dale has since denied this was discriminatory.
During the discussion, Campagnolo was offered other jobs such as goal umpire, marking lines or working the scoreboard.
Although all Campagnolo’s other cases have been dismissed, both the VCFL and the AFL have introduced sexuality discrimination into their anti-vilification policies in the past year.
Campagnolo still has two separate cases against the Department of Sustainability and Environment for sexual orientation discrimination and sexual harassment dating back over a decade.

You May Also Like

Comments are closed.