[Omah]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012...damages-claims

The BBC, four other public institutions and Jimmy Savile's estate are facing at least 50 potential damages claims from alleged victims of sex abuse by the late Jim'll Fix It presenter.

Liz Dux, a partner at law firm Russell Jones & Walker in London and an expert in personal injury and child abuse cases, revealed that she is in contact with 30 alleged victims and the number has almost doubled in the last week.

She added that damages payments in such cases could range from a few thousand pounds for those who suffered a minor assault and got on with their lives to hundreds of thousands if their lives were judged to have been wrecked, for example if they had been unable to have a career or form relationships.

Up to 20 other people have made contact with Alan Collins, the solicitor who represented victims the Jersey child abuse scandal.

Collins, of law firm Pannone, said the BBC and the Savile estate should consider opening a compensation fund to deal with the flood of claims.

"You've got the makings of a group action already but how official that becomes depends on the attitude of the BBC and the estate," he told the Guardian.

"So far all the abuse happened in the UK in a wide variety of circumstances. Savile was an opportunist, he was a risk-taker, it [the abuse] seems to have happened very quickly. He seems to have an eye for taking advantage of an opportunity."