I have been invited to speak at the Canadian Institute’s Ninth National Summit on Institutional Liability for Sexual Assault and Abuse.
My presentation is Overcoming Key Hurdles in Bringing and Defending Child Sexual Assault and Abuse Claims.
The conference is taking place in Toronto April 7-8, 2010.
The Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst has asked the Vatican to laicize a former priest from the Diocese, Father Levi Noel, who has been sentenced to eight years in jail for 22 sex related criminal offences.
Father Wesley Wade, spokesperson for the Diocese of Bathurst has told CBC news that the request is in the hands of the Vatican.
Laicization is a penalty imposed under the Code of Canon Law (Church law) where a priest is stripped of the right to perform priestly duties.
I have been retained to represent two women who allege they were sexually abused by a former priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Yarmouth, Father Raoul Deveau.
Anna Maria Tremonti of CBC’s The Current, interviewed one of my clients. You can listen to the interview here.
Secrets Protect the Abusers
This months cover story in Canadian Lawyer magazine is about Ron Martin’s class action against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish.
You can read the story online.
Justice Normand Glaude has released his report in the Cornwall Inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse.
Justice Glaude said during a press conference that:
“Institutions were ill equipped to deal with allegations about their own employees…institutions tend to try to find a way out, allowing individuals to stay under ineffective conditions that failed to protect the vulnerable.”
Priest Convicted of Sexual Abuse 20 years Ago
More than 20 years ago Father James Hickey was convicted of sexually abusing a number of alter boys in the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Johns, Newfoundland.
Since then, the boys, now men, who were sexually abused by Hickey, have been fighting the Catholic Church in Court seeking compensation for their injuries.
Pope Benedict XVI has issued a statement saying he”shares the outrage, betrayal and shame felt by so many of the faithful in Ireland (over) these heinous crimes,” over reports that church leaders in Ireland covered up sexual abuse by priests for decades.
Just a Few Bad Apples
The Pope’s statement expressed his “profound regret” at the actions of “some members of the clergy”.
Class Action Deadline
December 4, 2009 was an important deadline under the class action settlement agreement reached with the Diocese of Antigonish. If anyone opted out of the class action settlement on or before December 4, 2009, the Diocese had the right to pull out of the class action.
Similarly, if more than 70 people came forward before December 4, 2009 indicating that they wanted to pursue a claim against the Diocese, Ron Martin had the option to pull out of the class action.
Justice David MacAdam has released his written reasons certifying Ron Martin’s class action against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish and approving the settlement agreement to compensate victims of priest sexual abuse.
His Lordship Justice MacAdam reviewed in detail the requirements for certification and settlement approval. At paragraph 63 of his decision Justice MacAdam concluded:
I am satisfied on the basis of the submissions and evidence that the action meets the criteria for certification pursuant to ss. 6 and 7 of the Class Proceedings Act.
One of the greatest honors I have ever had was representing Nora Bernard, and the survivors of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School, in the negotiations that lead to the creation of the Indian Residential School National Class Action Settlement.
Former Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci was the lead negotiator for Canada.
