Settlement in Quebec minor hockey coach abuse class action
The class action brought by John Cormier, one of Lamarre's victims, named the City of Longueuil and Lamarre's estate as defendants.
A class action settlement has been approved by Quebec Superior Court, potentially allocating up to $10.25 million to individuals who were sexually abused by a minor hockey coach in a Montreal suburb.
The coach, François Lamarre, was a former Montreal police officer who retired in 1994 and served as a boys’ hockey coach in Greenfield Park for nearly three decades until 2001. Greenfield Park is now part of Longueuil, located south of Montreal.
Lamarre passed away in July 2020, about seven months after being charged with several offenses, including gross indecency, indecent exposure, sexual assault, sexual touching, and invitation to sexual touching, involving four complainants.
A civil trial scheduled for this fall was canceled following discussions of a potential settlement, which was formally authorized on Tuesday by Justice Suzanne Courchesne.
Settlement Details
The class action, initiated by John Cormier—one of Lamarre’s victims—targeted the City of Longueuil and Lamarre’s estate. The majority of the settlement will be funded by the city, with a smaller contribution of $8,300 coming from Lamarre’s estate via the provincial tax collection agency.
Compensation amounts will vary based on the severity of abuse, with a maximum payout of $600,000 per victim. Court documents outline provisions for up to 56 potential victims, with the total settlement ranging from $3.6 million to $10.25 million, depending on the number of claims.
Legal and Victim Support
Pierre Boivin, a lawyer representing the victims, expressed support for the settlement and encouraged victims or their representatives to act quickly, as there is a six-month deadline to submit claims.
