Hockey Abuse Class Action Against CHL, QMJHL, and its 18 Teams
Update: December 6, 2024 – Notice to Class Members About Authorization of Class Action
By Judgment dated December 4, 2024, the Superior Court of Québec approved the long form notice to class members to inform them that the class action was authorized and about their rights.
If you were abused as a minor while playing in the QMJHL, we encourage you 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:
| David Stolow dstolow@kklex.com 514-360-8867 | Claudia Giroux cgiroux@kklex.com 514-360-3632 | Robert Kugler rkugler@kklex.com 514-360-8882 |
We will continue to update this page as the case progresses.
After the Defendants did not succeed in obtaining permission to appeal the judgment authorizing a class action, Kugler Kandestin filed a class action lawsuit (available in French) against the CHL, the QMJHL, and its 18 teams.
The class action stems from the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse suffered by players who were abused in the QMJHL while they were minors.
We are pleased to report that by judgment dated April 10, 2024, the Superior Court of Québec granted our Application for permission to file a class action against the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the Québec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and its 18 teams.
The class action seeks $15 million in punitive damages and compensatory damages on behalf of all class members in connection with the abuse that they suffered, as minors, while playing in the QMJHL.
The class action is for the benefit of the following group [unofficial translation]:
“All hockey players who were abused* while minors and playing in The Québec Major Junior Hockey League (hereinafter the “QMJHL”) since July 1, 1969; (hereinafter the “Class”)
* “Abuse” means any form of physical, sexual and/or psychological assault, including being confined, shaved, stripped, drugged and/or forcibly intoxicated, forced or encouraged to physically and/or sexually assault others, forced to drink or eat urine, saliva, semen, feces and/or other filthy substances, forced to inflict self-inflicted injury, or forced to commit acts of bestiality; »
With respect to the next steps in this class action, the Court will be asked to approve a notice to class members to inform them of the authorization judgment and their rights, and a lawsuit will be filed against the defendants.