Attorney-General John Quigley intervenes in one-punch victim Danny Hodgson’s bid for financial compensation

Attorney-General John Quigley has intervened in one-punch victim Danny Hodgson’s bid for financial compensation, calling it his “last big fight for justice from inside the Parliament”. The State Solicitor’s Office has been convinced to come to the table for negotiations — one month after trying to stymie the former soccer player’s legal action. Meeting Mr Hodgson and his partner Jess Pollock on Thursday, Mr Quigley said he had spoken to the head of the State Solicitor’s Office about the case but could not “interfere” or “tell them to give you a dollar”. However, it is hoped the “without prejudice” talks between the State Solicitor’s Office and Mr Hodgson’s lawyers could lead to a financial settlement for the UK-born Perth resident, who was left in a wheelchair and with a traumatic brain injury after an unprovoked attack by a 17-year-old who was out on bail after a string of violent assaults. Mr Hodgson and Ms Pollock were cautiously optimistic about the prospect of talks, which is what they had sought before starting legal action. However, he said the stress of financial uncertainty would “always be hanging over us” until it was settled. “I haven’t slept properly for three years because of the stress of this,” he said. The couple are suing the State for negligence, arguing Mr Hodgson’s attacker should never have been out on bail and seeking compensation to cover the cost of around-the-clock care. They were left stunned last month after the State Solicitor’s Office filed an application to strike out Mr Hodgson’s writ — a move that, if successful, would deny him his day in court. Mr Quigley, who will quit politics at the 2025 State election, emphasised at the meeting with Mr Hodgson and Ms Pollock, also attended by The West Australian, that he couldn’t “make any admission that the State has done anything wrong”. “I can’t tell the department (what to do). However, as Attorney-General I’m not without influence,” he said to Mr Hodgson. “Looking at your circumstance, most people in Perth would be very sympathetic that you’ve done nothing more than walk through our city and be rendered paraplegic by a youth who was on 24-hour curfew. A hearing over the bid to strike out Mr Hodgson’s writ has now been indefinitely adjourned. If talks between the State Solicitor’s Office and his lawyers do not lead to an agreement, the next step would be court-ordered mediation in another bid to avoid drawn-out legal action. Mr Quigley said he was “optimistic” everyone would negotiate in good faith. “During my 24 years in Parliament I’ve fought for a number of justice causes,” he said. “I want to leave on a good note. Danny’s my last big fight for justice from inside the Parliament.” Since the 2021 attack, Mr Hodgson has been unable to work and needs full-time care as well as extensive rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Ms Pollock is also unable to work because she has become his carer. The couple said they are struggling financially as a result and want the freedom to make plans for the future. “We’ve had to beg on our hands and knees for everything,” she said. “We can’t do anything, we can’t pay our bills. At the moment we’re living off donations from people — that’s going to run out soon. It’s so uncertain every day and it’s just extra worry and stress.” Mr Hodgson said money would not bring back his old life, but would make his new one easier. “I think money’s not everything in life,” he said. “Money can’t buy happiness but it can relieve stress.”