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A group of high-risk inmates wants tens of thousands of dollars for the "distress and humiliation" they suffered when Corrections Department documents containing their personal details were found on an Auckland street.
The compensation claim is being handled by Wellington lawyer Chris Tennet and is likely to cause Corrections more embarrassment as fallout over the 30-page dossier continues.
One staff member has been suspended as a result of the blunder and is likely to face disciplinary action once the department has completed its investigation into the incident.
The investigation ties in with a separate inquiry into how classified police material relating to the Nia Glassie murder case ended up in the hands of a South Auckland man.
The man, known only as "Kevin", claims he received the material from a disgruntled Corrections worker trying to embarrass the department.
The documents at the centre of Tennet's claim were found last month by a member of the public near Auckland's High Court. They contain personal details of high-profile criminals including David Tamihere, Paul Dally and Bailey Kurariki.
The dossier was first handed to Alt TV's Martin Bradbury and was passed to the New Zealand Herald before being seized by police.
It contained Kurariki's address, plus probation notes stating he had "nil incidents to date (very early days)" since his release two months ago.
The file also mentioned Tamihere was progressing well but noted the Probation Service wanted him to undergo "intensive counselling" before his release, possibly later this year, for the murders of tourists Urban Hoglin and Heidi Paakkonen in 1989.
Tennet told the Herald on Sunday he was representing at least six inmates who would be seeking compensation for the distress and humiliation they had suffered as a result of their personal details becoming public.
But he said the claim could extend to family members and relatives who were also identified.
He did not want to identify the claimants but confirmed career criminal Arthur Taylor and his wife Carolyn were among them.
Taylor said he would be seeking a minimum of $10,000 for the distress he and his wife had suffered.
Tennet said there was a high level of concern among inmates about Corrections' failure to properly safeguard extremely sensitive information.
"The legal claim will be to address the anxiety and distress suffered by these people. It's hard enough getting parole as it is without this sort of thing happening," Tennet said.
"The other significant issue is the fact that supporters of these people - many of whom have no previous convictions - have also been exposed. Their details are now out in the public domain and that is not acceptable."
He accepted there might be little public sympathy for the claimants but said they should not have their parole entitlement jeopardised because of Corrections' incompetence.
Corrections spokeswoman Katrina Casey said the department had not been contacted about any proposed legal action but was satisfied it took appropriate steps to stop the publication of any identifying details.
"The department took this matter very seriously and instigated an urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the document. This investigation is ongoing," Casey said.
