'Barry Bennell case' webinar

Barry Bennell was, for a short time, a local football scout in the mid-1970s. After this stopped, he continued to assume the mantle of a local scout, befriending the families of very young footballers, winning their trust and exploiting that trust to give himself opportunities to abuse the boys. Eight of them brought claims which were, in January this year, dismissed.

The background to the claims is a learning opportunity for all those working with children and young people, and in particular for those where there is a reliance on volunteers and others to provide “discretionary” time for the furtherance of each club’s aims and objectives. In this on-demand webinar, our leading lawyers will look at the three key themes that came out in January’s decision known as TVZ v Manchester City Football Club. They are:

• The question of limitation and how it applies to claims dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.
• The issue of vicarious liability and how a person holding themselves out as a scout or representative might render an organisation vicariously liable for their deliberate acts of abuse.
• A rather unusual approach taken by the Judge to the question of causation and damages.

This presentation is aimed at sports and social clubs, scouting and guiding groups, safeguarding officers involved with these organisations and sports associations. The implications of the judgment will also be of significant concern of insurers and brokers of these organisations.

The opinions expressed on this video are provided for the purposes of general interest and information and should not be relied upon. They contain only summaries of aspects of the subject matter at the time of publishing and do not provide comprehensive statements of the law. They do not constitute legal advice and do not provide a substitute for it. So why not talk to us and seek advice that's tailored to you? You can look up one of our experts on this website or call on 0370 270 6000.