THUNDER BAY – A proposed settlement in a multi-million dollar class-action lawsuit involving historic cases of sexual abuse committed against hundreds of Indigenous youth has been reached by the involved parties, though it still needs to be approved by the court.
The class action first filed in 2017 against Ralph Rowe, Scouts Canada, and the Anglican Synod of the Diocese of Keewatin was seeking $110 million.
The damages sought relate to numerous incidents of sexual abuse committed by Rowe between 1975 and 1985, when he was a priest and Scout leader in the geographic boundaries of the Anglican Diocese of Keewatin in Northern Ontario.
According to a final settlement agreement released this week following a settlement approval hearing held in June, the defendants and third parties have agreed to collectively pay $13.25 million into an interest-bearing trust account.
The settlement will be used to pay legal fees, administrative costs, and compensation to class members.
Class action members will be entitled to varying amounts of compensation based on an allocation system. Victims of sexual assault can receive between $30,000 and $140,000, depending on the actions that were committed against them.
A further compensation allocation system will provide between $120,000 and $210,000 based on physical, mental, and ongoing trauma and negative impacts of the assaults.
Forms will also be made available to family of deceased class-action members to claim compensation as part of the proposed settlement.
"The settlement will provide real compensation for a vulnerable class through a trauma-informed claims process,” said Jonathan Park, a partner at Koskie Minsky LLP, the firm representing the class members, in a statement. “We believe it is an excellent settlement after many years of hard-fought litigation.”
The original statement of claim filed in 2017 alleged that Synod and Scouts Canada engaged in “systemic negligence and breach of fiduciary duty,” which allowed “Rowe’s sexual predation to continue for decades.”
Since 1988, Rowe has been convicted of nearly 60 crimes relating to sexual assault and abuse involving dozens of victims, and served less than five years in custody.
A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2023 for the court to review the settlement agreement. If the agreement is approved, class action members can make claims for compensation.
Any class members who oppose the settlement agreement must submit an objection form by Sept. 29, 2023. Those who support the agreement do not need to take any action.
Class action members looking for more information can contact Koskie Minsky LLP by phone at 1-888-353-6661 or email at ralphroweclassaction@kmlaw.ca.
