Court Certifies Class Action Concerning Twelve Ontario Institutions

TORONTO, Aug. 20, 2015 /CNW/ - A class action concerning twelve former Ontario institutions for the developmentally delayed has been certified by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The class action follows the 2013 settlement of three class actions for the Huronia Regional Centre, Rideau Regional Centre and Southwestern Regional Centre. The plaintiff has alleged that the province was negligent in the management and operation of the twelve institutions, resulting in systemic abuse and harm to the former residents. Many of the former residents attended the institutions as children and young adults. Former residents have alleged they were physically and verbally assaulted while living at the institutions. The allegations have not been proven in court.

The Toronto law firm of Koskie Minsky LLP has been appointed as class counsel for the former residents. David Rosenfeld of Koskie Minsky stated that "We are happy that a class action will now be proceeding for the former residents of these twelve institutions. We hope this action will provide recognition of the experiences of former residents and ultimately compensation for what they had to endure."

Now that a class action has been given the approval to go ahead by the Court, the next step will be for the parties to litigate the case on it merits.   

Subject to certain restrictions on the years of attendance, the class action generally covers anyone who used to live at one of the twelve institutions. The twelve intuitions consist of: the St. Lawrence Regional Centre, D'Arcy Place, the Edgar Adult Occupational Centre, Pine Ridge, Muskoka Centre, Oxford Regional Centre, Midwestern Regional Centre, L.S. Penrose Centre, Bluewater Centre, Durham Centre for Developmentally Handicapped, Prince Edward Heights and Northwestern Regional Centre.

For further information:

• Toll-free hotline: [phone]
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.kmlaw.ca/institutionalabuse

SOURCE Koskie Minsky LLP

All media inquiries should be directed to Jody Brown at Koskie Minsky LLP at 416-595-2709.