RESOLUTE BAY and CLYDE RIVER, NU,
May 7,
2024 /CNW/ - A lawsuit was certified as a class
action on behalf of people who were subjected to sexual abuse while
attending Nunavut schools in
Resolute Bay or Clyde River
between April 1, 1969 and
July 30, 1981 and who were sexually
abused by teacher Maurice
Cloughley.
The Court certified the class action, appointed Representative
Plaintiffs, and appointed the law firms of Cooper Regel of Sherwood Park, Alberta and Morris Moore of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador as Class Counsel.
The Representative Plaintiffs and the Territory of
Nunavut (the "Territory" or
"Defendant") have agreed to settle this class action. If the
Court approves the settlement, the Territory will pay $8,000,000 to establish a settlement fund to
compensate class members, pay Class Counsel's legal fees and
expenses in the amount of $2,000,000
plus tax and expenses, disbursements to date of approximately
$95,014.17, plus taxes where
applicable, award $15,000 to each of
the Representative Plaintiffs, and pay for the administration of
the settlement.
If the Court approves the settlement, the settlement funds will
be divided between class members on the basis of their injuries, up
to $250,000 on any individual class
member's claim.
The Representative Plaintiffs and their lawyers believe the
proposed settlement is in the best interests of all class members.
By agreeing to the proposed settlement, both sides avoid the costs
and risks of further litigation and provide benefits to class
members (if the Court approves the proposed settlement).
The Court will hold a hearing on June 4,
2024 to approve the proposed settlement. Class members may
attend in person at the Nunavut
Court of Justice in Iqaluit, but
it is not necessary. The full notice and settlement agreement can
be found at www.CloughleySexAbuseClassAction.ca. The notice
includes details of the proposed settlement and explains class
members' legal rights and options, including how to object to the
proposed settlement and how to make a claim if the settlement is
approved.
Visit www.CloughleySexAbuseClassAction.ca or call 1-844-445-2734
to find out more.
SOURCE Cooper Regel and
Morris Moore