Class Action concerning abuses perpetrated in Québec youth reception centres – Superior Court of Québec (no. 500-06-001022-199)

Description of the action

This class action pertains to certain abuses committed against children in reception centers (also known as youth centers) throughout the Province of Québec (Superior Court of Québec no. 500-06-001022-199).

On September 7, 2022, the Honourable Christian Immer, Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec, authorized this class action against the Government of Quebec (represented by the Attorney General of Québec) and 16 integrated (university) health and social services centers (also known as CISSS or CIUSSS) on behalf of this Group:

Any person, save for an excluded person, who was placed, on or after October 1, 1950, in a centre as per a youth protection law, when he or she was 17 years old or less and who was subject to measures or who was sexually assaulted.

(Note: We invite you to refer to the Authorization Judgment and the notices available below for further information, such as on the terms and expressions identified in bold above ).

One of the goals of this class action is to obtain financial compensation for the members of the Group as damages for the abuses they suffered at these institutions, namely:

  • isolation, confinement or the fact of being locked up in a cell, a room or a common area, with or without the use of mechanical devices (straitjacket, handcuffs or shackles, for example) or chemical substances; and/or

    Some of the above measures may have been referred to as the “quiet room”, the “QT”, the “hole” or “arrêt d’agir”.

  • use of force or physical abuse; and/or
  • use of force by way of the administration of medication or other chemical substances; and/or
  • sexual abuse.

This class action is currently in progress, and our team is working on the preparation of the file in anticipation of an eventual trial (the date of which will be determined later).

We issue regular updates to all potential members who have joined our mailing list. To join our mailing list, simply send us an e-mail to ELCA@alexeevco.com (you may use the form below). If you are unable to receive updates by e-mail, we also send them by regular mail.

NOTICES TO MEMBERS

We invite you to refer to the Notices to members regarding the authorization of this class action:

Notice to members concerning the authorization of the class action (short version)

Notice to members concerning the authorization of the class action (long version)


OVERVIEW OF KEY EVENTS:

October 2, 2019

The Application for authorization to institute a class action and obtain the status of representative is filed with the Superior Court.

April 27, and 28, and June 28, 2022

The hearing on the Application for authorization to institute a class action and obtain the status of representative takes place.

August 11, 2022

The Superior Court authorizes the class action and defines the criteria to be a member of the group (judgment rectified on September 7, 2022).

December 7, 2022

The Originating Application is filed. This application marks the beginning of the post-authorization phase of the class action.

April 11, 2023

The Superior Court orders the communication of notices to members concerning the authorization of the action (judgment rectified on April 25, 2023).

How to reach our team

If you (or someone you know) were abused in a reception center (youth center), we invite you to contact us at the following coordinates:

Alexeev Attorneys Inc.

T. 514-545-7080

F. 514-648-7700

We issue regular updates to all potential members who have joined our mailing list. To join our mailing list, simply send us an e-mail to ELCA@alexeevco.com. If you are unable to receive updates by e-mail, we also send them by regular mail.