A historic $31.5 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Quebec has been approved by a Quebec Superior Court judge. The settlement brings an end to years of legal battles for individuals who claimed they were victims of sexual assault by Archdiocese members dating back to 1940.
The settlement, sanctioned by Quebec Superior Court Justice Danye Daigle earlier this week, was spearheaded by representative plaintiffs Gaétan Bégin and Pierre Bolduc. Bégin and Bolduc shared their accounts of being sexually assaulted by parish priests in the 1950s and 1960s when they were 14 and 12 years old, respectively.
Emotional testimonies from victims were heard by Justice Daigle during a public hearing in July to assess the fairness of the out-of-court settlement and requested fees for the class members. Following the hearing, Bégin, now 86, expressed that the day was monumental for him, emphasizing the lasting impact of the trauma he endured and how it affected his family.
Approximately 200 individuals have already joined the class action, with the Dufresne Wee law firm inviting other victims to submit claims detailing the alleged abuse within the next 90 days. Lawyer Justin Wee highlighted that the $31.5 million settlement stands as one of the largest against a diocese in Quebec.
Funding for the compensation fund will come from the Archdiocese of Quebec, the Séminaire de Québec, Collège François-de-Laval, and the Mutual Insurance of Quebec Fabriques. In addition to the monetary settlement, the defendants have agreed to cover administrative costs associated with the claims process, including fees for adjudicators and expenses for medical records and expert opinions when required.
The distribution of compensation to each individual will be determined by two retired judges appointed to evaluate the claims. Furthermore, victims will receive a written apology from the Archdiocese of Quebec as a part of the settlement terms.
In response to the approved settlement, Diocesan officials released an online statement expressing hope that this step towards reparation will aid victims in their journey toward healing and peace.