Class Action Against the Marist Brothers Religious Congregation
Update: May 23, 2025 – Important development in the Marist Brothers case
New notice to members
On May 6, 2025, the Superior Court authorized the publication of a new notice (French only) to the members of the present class action.
With the Marist Brothers having indicated their intention to negotiate an eventual out-of-court settlement, this new notice aims to provide a more accurate estimate of the number of victims who have been sexually assaulted by a member of that congregation across Québec in the past.
This is part of a process that could have a positive effect on the possibility of settling the present class action.
No personal information or details about the victims who have already contacted us or who will do so as a result of this notice will be disclosed to the Marist Brothers.
Only the total number of known victims will be communicated.
If you are one of the many victims who have already contacted Kugler Kandestin, you do not have to do so again.
However, if you are a victim and have not yet contacted us, you are strongly encouraged to do so by contacting a member of our team to register for the class action. This will provide us with a clearer picture of the number of potential victims of the Marist Brothers and enable you to understand your rights with respect to this class action.
All communications with us are free of charge, completely confidential and covered by professional secrecy.
The attorneys handling this class action are:
| Pierre Boivin pboivin@kklex.com (514) 360-8881 | Robert Kugler rkugler@kklex.com (514) 360-8882 | Alexandre Paquette-Dénommé adenomme@kklex.com (514) 360-8885 |
Document concerning this update: Notice to members (French only)
The trial in this class action was scheduled by preference and will be heard at the Québec courthouse from April 7 to June 5, 2026.
Many victims have already contacted Kugler Kandestin. All victims are strongly encouraged to contact members of our team to learn more about the case and their rights.
Kugler Kandestin filed a class action lawsuit (available in French only) against the Marist Brothers religious congregation seeking compensatory damages for each victim, as well as punitive and exemplary damages of $20 million.
The objective of the class action is to provide access to justice for victims of sexual assaults perpetrated by religious members of the Marist Brothers congregation. The class action alleges that reprehensible and intolerable sexual assaults were perpetrated in a systemic way over decades and in several locations in Québec.
Many victims have already contacted Kugler Kandestin. All victims are strongly encouraged to continue to contact members of our team to learn more about the case and their rights.
Kugler Kandestin is pleased to announce the dismissal of a motion for permission to appeal, filed by the Marist Brothers congregation, of the judgment authorizing the class action.
On May 17, 2023, a judge of the Court of Appeal of Québec dismissed the Marist Brothers’ application for permission to appeal, and as a result, the class action authorized by the Superior Court of Québec will now proceed.
On May 31, 2023, Notices to Members were published in newspapers to inform the public that the Superior Court of Québec has authorized a class action against the Marist Brothers.
Kugler Kandestin is proud to announce that by judgment dated January 24, 2023, the Superior Court of Québec authorized the filing of a class action against the various legal entities comprising the religious congregation of the Marist Brothers on behalf of all victims who were sexually assaulted in Québec by a member of that congregation.
Kugler Kandestin and the many victims of assault who have contacted the firm to date are pleased with this decision. The judgment authorizes the filing of the class action against all legal entities forming the Marist Brothers’ religious congregation in Québec, including entities for which it is alleged that the Marist Brothers transferred $160 million to avoid their obligation to compensate victims of sexual assault.
The judgment will allow Kugler Kandestin to file a class action seeking significant compensatory damages for each victim, as well as punitive damages in the amount of $20 million.
The Marist Brothers have worked throughout Québec for decades.
The class action was authorized on behalf of the following group:
“All persons who have been sexually assaulted by a member of the religious congregation known as the Marist Brothers at any place in Quebec, including but not limited to any educational institution, school, college, recreational facility, recreation center, camp, residence, place of worship (the “Class”).
The Group excludes persons who are members and who have not excluded themselves from the following class action: Association des amis du Patro Lokal de St-Hyacinthe v. Les Frères Maristes et al, court file number: 750-06-000004-140, namely “all persons, as well as their heirs, who were physically, sexually or psychologically abused by any religious member or employee of the religious congregation known as the Marist Brothers while attending or residing at the Patro Lokal housing resource in St-Hyacinthe, between 1970 and 1986.”
Kugler Kandestin has filed an Application for Authorization to Institute a Class Action on behalf of individuals who were sexually abused by religious members of the Marist Brothers across Québec. The Application seeks damages of $950,000 for Plaintiff B., punitive damages of $20 million, and damages for each member of the Class to be determined.