TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Koskie Minsky LLP has commenced an action on behalf of representative plaintiff, James Templin, in a proposed class action against the Province of Ontario in respect of the Child and Parent Resource Institute ("CPRI") in London, Ontario.
CPRI was a "Schedule 1" facility that housed persons labelled as developmentally challenged and delayed pursuant to the Developmental Services Act. It was formerly named the "Children's Psychiatric Research Institute".
The lawsuit alleges that the Province was negligent and breached its fiduciary duty by virtue of its operation, management, administration, supervision and control of CPRI, resulting in physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of residents, as well as other harms.
The plaintiff brings this lawsuit on behalf of all persons who were alive as of February 22, 2014, and who resided at CPRI sometime during the period from September 1, 1963 until July 1, 2011. The lawsuit seeks $100 million in general damages and $100 million in punitive damages.
This case follows the settlements in class actions concerning the Huronia, Southwestern and Rideau Regional Centres in 2013 and 2014, all of which were Schedule 1 facilities. In addition, in November 2015, Koskie Minsky settled another class action concerning 12 other Schedule 1 institutions, for which a court approval hearing is scheduled in April 2016. In total, therefore, settlements for individuals who were abused at 15 of the 19 Schedule 1 facilities have been reached. While CPRI was initially proposed for inclusion, the Province refused to include it in the settlement.
"It is not clear why the Province chose to compensate those individuals who were abused at other Schedule 1 Facilities, but not at CPRI. Many residents of CPRI have suffered horrible abuses on the Province's watch that have gone ignored for far too long. This lawsuit finally represents a real shot at access to justice for these vulnerable people," says David Rosenfeld, a partner at Koskie Minsky LLP with carriage of the matter.
On December 22, 2015, the Province was notified of the plaintiff's intention to file this lawsuit pursuant to the Proceedings Against the Crown Act.
SOURCE Koskie Minsky LLP
or if you are a class member: Website: www.kmlaw.ca/cpriclassaction, Toll-free: 1-844-819-8523, Email: [email protected], For all media enquiries, please contact: Jody Brown, 416-595-2709
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