In a groundbreaking development, a Quebec Superior Court judge has given the nod to a significant settlement amounting to $31.5 million in a class-action lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Quebec. This settlement brings an end to a prolonged legal battle for individuals who claimed to have been victims of sexual assault by members of the Archdiocese dating back to 1940.
The approval of the settlement by Quebec Superior Court Justice Danye Daigle this week follows the efforts of representative plaintiffs Gaétan Bégin and Pierre Bolduc. Bégin and Bolduc came forward with their own accounts of being sexually assaulted by parish priests during the 1950s and 1960s when they were 14 and 12 years old, respectively.
During a public hearing in July, Justice Daigle heard poignant testimonies from victims to assess the fairness of the out-of-court settlement and the requested fees for the benefit of the class members. Following the hearing, Bégin expressed his sentiments, calling it a historic day and reflecting on the enduring impact of the past trauma on his life and family.
Approximately 200 individuals have already joined the class action, with the Dufresne Wee law firm announcing a 90-day window for additional victims to come forward and detail their experiences of abuse and its repercussions. Lawyer Justin Wee highlighted that the $31.5 million settlement stands as one of the largest against a diocese in Quebec.
The compensation fund will be underwritten by contributions from the Archdiocese of Quebec, the Séminaire de Québec, Collège François-de-Laval (formerly known as the Petit Séminaire de Québec), and the Mutual Insurance of Quebec Fabriques. Besides the financial settlement, the defendants have committed to covering the administrative costs of the claims process, including fees for adjudicators and expenses related to securing medical records and expert opinions when required.
Each claimant’s compensation will be determined by two retired judges tasked with evaluating the claims, and victims will also receive a formal apology from the Archdiocese of Quebec. In response to this development, Diocesan officials expressed their hope that this reparative phase will aid victims in their journey towards peace and healing.