Real Housewives of Melbourne’s Janet Roach is suing after a fire left her son Jake Zogoolas with third-degree burns to 70 per cent of his body.
According to the Herald Sun, the 59-year-old reality TV star is suing through the Supreme Court, saying her career as a property developer has been ruined due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The publication reports that Janet was left ‘introverted’ due to the incident and can’t enjoy social, sporting or recreational events.
Legal action: Real Housewives of Melbourne’s Janet Roach is suing after a fire left her son, 29, with third-degree burns to 70 per cent of his body, claiming that PTSD has ruined her property developing career and left her ‘introverted’
Janet was left with a depressive disorder and suffered nervous shock as her son recovered.
Jake was accidentally doused in petrol and went up in flames while sitting around a campfire at a friend’s 21st birthday party in April 2011.
The Herald Sun reports that Janet claims the owners of the property – Harold and Bonnie Clapham, AFL star Tom Hawkins’ in-laws – didn’t keep guests safe or supervise them when alcohol was supplied.
Their son James is also being sued for reportedly pouring an accelerant into the fire.
The incident: Janet’s son Jake Zogoolas (left) was accidentally doused in petrol and went up in flames while sitting around a campfire at a friends 21st birthday party in April 2011
It has been widely reported that Jake suffered burns to 70 per cent of his body.
In 2015, Janet said around half a million dollars had been spent on treatments for Jake, when speaking to The Daily Telegraph.
Moved by the need to help less fortunate families with their costs, the mother-son duo set up The Roach Foundation to help burns victims who are unable to afford the treatments Jake received.
Battle: In 2015, Janet said around half a million dollars had been spent on treatments for Jake
Charity: Moved by the need to help less fortunate families with their costs, the mother-son duo set up The Roach Foundation to help burns victims who are unable to afford treatments
They also set up a tea making site called Raw Essentials, as they had noticed that herbal teas benefited Jake during his recovery.
‘After much persistence, Janet convinced Jake to try the teas she had been blending,’ the website states.
‘About a week into the course of having the teas daily – every morning and night, Jake started to experience a new-found energy, and in turn a far more positive and motivated outlook.’
In 2014, Janet opened up to Daily Mail Australia about her one and only tattoo – a dragon on her back – which is a tribute to Jake and his journey to recovery.
‘I wanted to have something permanent on my body too’: In 2014, Janet opened up to Daily Mail Australia about her one and only tattoo – a dragon on her back – which is a tribute to Jake
‘It’s a dragon because my son was in a fire and he was very, very scarred all over and we had been dealing with that,’ she explained,
‘I just felt like I wanted to have something permanent on my body too. When I got it done both of my boys were like “Mum!”‘
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Janet for comment in relation to this article.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Janet for comment in relation to this article