Class Actions

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Victims of sexual abuse committed by Brothers of Sacred Heart across Quebec

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021: SUPERIOR COURT APPROVES $60 MILLION SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTIONS AGAINST THE BROTHERS OF SACRED-HEART

Kugler Kandestin has the immense pleasure to announce that on September 2, 2021, the Superior Court rendered a Judgment approving a settlement of $60 million in the Class actions against the Brothers of Sacred-Heart.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT A CLAIM:

In order to benefit from the settlement, Class members must submit a claim by no later than July 30, 2022.

Class members must submit a claim by completing the Claims Form and sending it at the following coordinates:

Registered mail:

Kugler Kandestin (Reference: Brothers of Sacred-Heart)

1 Place Ville Marie, suite 1170, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2A7

or

By fax:

Reference: Brothers of Sacred-Heart at 514-875-8424

or

By e-mail: reclamationfsc@kklex.com

It is important to note that even if you have already contacted Class Counsel to discuss the sexual abuse that you endured, you must still complete and submit a Claims Form.

WHO DECIDES MY CLAIM?

Class Counsel have appointed two retired judges, the Honourable Claudette Picard and the Honourable Pepita G. Capriolo, to act as Claims Arbitrators.

Each Class member that will submit a Claim will have a private and confidential meeting with one Claims Arbitrator.

The Claims Arbitrator is solely responsible for determining the admissibility of the claim and the category of compensation that each Class member is eligible to receive.

The amount of compensation for each category of compensation will only be known after all claims have been decided.

For more details, please read Appendix 1 of the Settlement Agreement: Claims Process and the Notice to Members of the Approval of the Settlement Agreement.

JULY 16, 2021: SETTLEMENT REACHED IN THE CLASS ACTIONS AGAINST THE BROTHERS OF THE SACRED HEART.

Kugler Kandestin is extremely please to announce that we have reached a historic settlement in the class actions against the “Frères du Sacré-Coeur”/Brothers of the Sacred Heart on behalf of all of those who have been sexually assaulted in Quebec by a religious member of The Brothers of the Sacred Heart.

A total amount of $60 million will be paid to settle the Class actions and Class members’ claims.

A retired judge will act as adjudicator/arbitrator to decide the claims of Class members and the category of compensation to which they are entitled. The Defendants will have no involvement or right to contest any claims.

In order for a settlement in a Class action to be valid, it must be approved by the Superior Court. On August 26, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., a hearing will be held, by videoconference, for the Application to approve the settlement, the claims process and Class Counsel fees. You may consult the Notice to Class members for this hearing. You do not have to attend the hearing in order to benefit from the settlement, if it is approved.

You can consult the following documents to understand the terms of the settlement, its benefits for members and the categories of compensation:

• Settlement agreement
• Annex 1 of the Settlement Agreement: Claims process
• Annex 2 of the Settlement Agreement: Claim form
• Application to Approve the Settlement Agreement and the payment of Class Counsel Fees

If the Superior Court approves the settlement, we will provide additional information regarding the steps to take to submit a claim and the Claims deadline. Please note that at this time no claim can be submitted and that the claims process has not yet begun.

If you or someone you know has been sexually abused by a religious member of the “Frères du Sacré-Coeur” / Brothers of the Sacred Heart, you may contact one of the undersigned lawyers so that we may inform you of your rights. Your communications with us are free and will be kept strictly confidential.

October 9, 2020

On October 10, 2020, Notices were published in newspapers to inform the public of the Quebec Superior Court’s authorization of a class action against the Brothers of Sacred Heart.  To consult the complete Notice to members authorized by the Court, click here.

Due to COVID-19, judicial delays were suspended until September 1, 2020.  On October 2, 2020, a case management conference took place, at which time the Court set a timeline to enable the case to advance.

Class members who have any questions may contact us.  Communications between members and our firm are strictly confidential and free.

March 11, 2020

Kugler Kandestin files a class action lawsuit claiming compensatory damages for each victim, as well as punitive and exemplary damages in the amount of $15 million.

The class action lawsuit seeks to enable access to justice to all victims throughout Quebec who were sexually abused by religious members of the Brothers of Sacred Heart. The class action alleges that the reprehensible and unacceptable sexual abuse was perpetrated systematically for several decades in numerous establishments across the Province.

The class action was filed following a Judgment of the Superior Court of Quebec dated December 3, 2019 authorizing the Application for authorization to file a class action.

Numerous victims have communicated with Kugler Kandestin on a confidential basis.  All victims are encouraged to continue to contact Kugler Kandestin in order to learn about the case and of their rights.  All communications will be kept strictly confidential and will be free.

December 4, 2019

Kugler Kandestin is thrilled to announce that the Quebec Superior Court has authorized the institution of a class action against the legal entities forming the Brothers of the Sacred-Heart on behalf of all victims throughout Quebec who were sexually abused by a member of the religious order.

Kugler Kandestin and the numerous victims of sexual abuse that have contacted the firm are rejoicing in this decision. The Judgment will allow Kugler Kandestin to proceed with a class action lawsuit claiming significant compensatory damages for each victim, as well as punitive damages in the amount of $15 million.

Many victims have communicated with Kugler Kandestin on a confidential basis.  All victims are encouraged to continue to contact Kugler Kandestin in order to learn about the case and of their rights.  All communications will be kept strictly confidential and will be free.

February 7, 2019

Kugler Kandestin files a new Application for Authorization to Institute a Class Action on behalf of individuals who were sexually abused by religious members of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart across Québec.

Please take note that a Class Action has already been authorized on behalf of the victims of sexual abuse by religious members of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart at Mont Sacré-Coeur College in Granby. The new Application for Authorization to Institute a Class Action filed on February 7, 2019 aims to provide access to justice for all other victims throughout Québec.

The Application for Authorization alleges that reprehensible and unacceptable sexual abuse was perpetrated over the course of decades in many establishments throughout Quebec by numerous religious members of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. You can consult a non-exhaustive list of the establishments where abuse occurred and religious members currently known to have perpetrated the abuse here.

If you were sexually abused by a religious member of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart anywhere in Québec, we encourage you to communicate with one of the lawyers below so that we can inform you of your rights.  Your communications with us are free and will be kept strictly confidential.

We will continue to update this page as the case progresses.