Sexual Assault Class Action Against the Late François Lamarre (Hockey Coach)
Update: December 17, 2024 – Approval of Class Action Settlement for Sexual Assaults Committed by the Late François Lamarre (Hockey coach)
We are very pleased to announce that on December 10, 2024, a judgment (attached is the unofficial English translation of the original French version of the judgment) was rendered by the Superior Court of Québec approving the settlement of the class action brought against the City of Longueuil and the late François Lamarre on behalf of all persons who, over the course of decades and up to and including December 31, 2001, were sexually assaulted by him while he was a hockey coach with various teams of the minor hockey leagues of the City of Greenfield Park, as well as the estate of such persons if they died after September 1, 2017.
On December 17, 2024, Notices to members were published in various newspapers
Victims of the late François Lamarre whose claims are accepted will be eligible to receive substantial compensation which will vary according to the severity of the damages suffered, and which could reach several hundred thousands of dollars.
Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Defendants will pay a total amount ranging between $3,600,000 to $10,250,000, depending on the number of Members whose claims are accepted by the Court-appointed Adjudicator.
The Settlement Agreement also provides that neither the Defendants nor their lawyers will have any right to challenge, review or intervene in the claims process, and that only the Adjudicator and our firm as Class counsel will know the identity of the Members submitting a claim.
We are extremely pleased with the judgment, which provides that the settlement “offers Members a high level of individual compensation, in the upper range of out-of-court settlements in similar matters. It varies according to the severity of the damages suffered, regardless of the number of claims deemed eligible (…) following a simple, efficient, respectful and strictly confidential adjudication process” [unofficial translation].
In order to be indemnified under the Settlement, Members MUST complete this Claim Form (the English translation of the French Claim form) and submit it by June 17, 2025. If the claim form is not submitted by that date, it will not be accepted and you will not be able to benefit from the settlement.
Kugler Kandestin LLP, which represents the Members of this class action, strongly encourages François Lamarre’s victims and the victims’ estates to contact lawyers Pierre Boivin or Emily Painter who are available to answer Members’ questions and to help you with the claims process. Your communications with us are free and completely confidential.
| Pierre Boivin pboivin@kklex.com 514-360-8881 | Emily Painter epainter@kklex.com 514-360-3462 |
We are very pleased to announce the settlement of the class action filed on behalf of all persons who were sexually assaulted by the late François Lamarre while he was a coach of the municipal hockey program in Greenfield Park, until and including December 31, 2001, as well as the estate of any such persons if they passed away after September 1, 2017.
The Defendants will pay a Global Settlement Fund in an amount, ranging from $3.6 million to $10.25 million, based on the number of claims deemed eligible by an adjudicator. If more than 56 claims are deemed eligible, the settlement may be renegotiated or otherwise cancelled, to ensure that the benefits payable to members whose claims are deemed eligible are not unduly reduced.
The settlement, which is subject to the approval of the Superior Court of Québec, will permit eligible members to receive substantial compensation following a completely confidential claims process that excludes the Defendants from any involvement or right of contestation.
The hearing to approve the settlement will be heard on December 3, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., at the Longueuil Courthouse, Room 1.19. At that hearing, class counsel will also ask the Court to approve their Counsel Fees. You do not have to attend the hearing to benefit from the settlement.
You can consult the following documents to learn more about the settlement, and why we are strongly recommending that the Court approve it:
- Transaction et Quittance (Official French version of Settlement Agreement)
- Unofficial English translation of the “Transaction et Quittance”
- Notice to Members
- Demande d'approbation de la transaction et des honoraires des avocats de la classe (Official French version)
- Unofficial English translation of “Demande d'approbation de la transaction et des honoraires des avocats de la classe”
The claims process has not yet started. If the settlement is approved, we will provide additional information regarding how to submit a claim,
If you or someone you know was sexually assaulted by François Lamarre, we encourage you to communicate with us, so that we can inform you of your rights.
Your communications with our firm are free and will be kept strictly confidential.
| Pierre Boivin pboivin@kklex.com 514-360-8881 | Emily Painter epainter@kklex.com 514-360-3462 | |
| David Stolow dstolow@kklex.com 514-360-8867 | Robert Kugler rkugler@kklex.com 514-360-8882 |
We will continue to update this page as the case progresses.
The trial in the class action filed on behalf of all persons who were sexually abused by the late François Lamarre while he was a coach of the municipal hockey program in Greenfield Park (as well as the estate of any such persons if they passed away after September 1, 2017) was scheduled to take place from September 2024 to November 2024. It has been postponed due to ongoing discussions between the parties.
All class members are encouraged to contact our attorneys so that we can inform you of your rights.
Your communications with our firm are free, strictly confidential, and are covered by professional secrecy.
The Kugler Kandestin attorneys handling this case are:
| Pierre Boivin pboivin@kklex.com 514-360-8881 | Emily Painter epainter@kklex.com 514-360-3462 |
We will continue to update this page as the case progresses.
Kugler Kandestin filed a class action lawsuit claiming compensatory damages for each victim, as well as punitive and exemplary damages in the amount of $10 million.
The class action lawsuit seeks access to justice for persons who were sexually abused by the late François Lamarre while he was the coach of the municipal hockey program in Greenfield Park, as well as the estate of any such persons if they passed away after September 1, 2017.
The class action was filed following a judgment of the Superior Court of Québec dated May 6, 2021, authorizing the Application for authorization to file a class action.
Kugler Kandestin is thrilled to announce that by judgment dated May 6, 2021, the Superior Court of Québec has authorized the filing of a class action against the City of Longueuil and the estate of the late François Lamarre on behalf of all persons who were sexually abused by the late François Lamarre while he was the coach of the municipal hockey program in Greenfield Park, as well as the estate of any such persons if they passed away after September 1, 2017.
The judgment authorizes Kugler Kandestin to file a class action seeking significant compensatory damages for each victim, as well as punitive damages of $10 million.
Kugler Kandestin filed an Application for Authorization to Institute a Class Action on behalf of individuals who were sexually abused by the late François Lamarre while he was a hockey coach in and for the City of Greenfield Park (Longueuil).
The Application for Authorization alleges that François Lamarre engaged in reprehensible and unacceptable behaviour by sexually abusing numerous children enrolled in Greenfield Park’s minor hockey program over the course of decades.