Class-action lawsuit over sexual abuse at Metro Vancouver schools settled for $30M
The B.C. Supreme Court approved a $30-million settlement for historical abuse claims at two Metro Vancouver Catholic schools.Summary
The B.C. Supreme Court has approved a $30-million settlement for a class-action lawsuit involving historical physical, psychological, and sexual abuse at Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate. The lawsuit alleged that members of the Christian Brothers of Ireland, some of whom were transferred from the notorious Mount Cashel orphanage, committed abuse at these schools between 1976 and 2013.
Justice Simon Coval approved the settlement, which includes a confidential, trauma-informed claims process designed to avoid the hardships of a trial. The class includes more than 200 individuals who reported suffering significant mental health, relationship, and employment challenges due to the abuse. While many class members accepted the settlement, some expressed disappointment regarding the lack of accountability from the defendants.
The defendants, including the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver, expressed sympathy for the victims, while the Archbishop also acknowledged the failure of church leaders to prevent the abuse and the subsequent cover-ups. Some class members have chosen to opt out of this settlement to pursue individual lawsuits.
(Source：BayToday)