Dani Laidley has received a confidential financial settlement from Victoria Police almost two years after photos of the former AFL player and coach wearing a wig and make-up were leaked by officers and posted on social media.
A notice of interruption was filed in the Supreme Court last week after Mrs Laidley in May 2021 filed a negligent claim against Victoria Police, alleging that the force and its officers had breached her duty of care while in custody.
Dani Laidley will receive a payout from Victoria Police.Credit:Wayne Taylor
The size of the settlement is unknown.
Mrs Laidley and her lawyer Jeremy King both declined to comment, and a Victoria Police spokeswoman also declined to discuss the payout, but issued a statement to Aging on Tuesday.
“By agreement between both parties to the trial, the terms of the settlement are confidential. Under the standard process, any disciplinary action relevant to the members charged with a criminal offense will follow the conclusion of those criminal proceedings,” the police spokeswoman said.
Ms Laidley and her legal team had not designated a specific amount of compensation they were seeking, but made a claim for aggravated and exemplary damages, according to a Supreme Court ruling.
“These officers intended, or knew or should have known, that the natural and probable result would be the republishing of the first and second photographs and the words in the press, on radio and television and on the Internet. [Ms Laidley] has been hurt in her feelings, credit and reputation [and] “has been brought to public ridicule and contempt and has suffered, and continues to suffer, loss and harm,” it said in court documents.
Three police officers were charged with a number of offenses in connection with the alleged leak of the photographs of Ms Laidley in custody, including misdemeanor in public office, unauthorized access to police information and unauthorized disclosure of police information.