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Manitoba Development Centre Class Action Lawsuit Overview:
- Who: The Manitoba Development Centre’s appeal in a class action lawsuit was denied by the Court of Appeal.
- Why: The Centre had requested to appeal class action certification for plaintiffs who were residents at the facility between July 1, 1951 and May 29, 2020.
- Where: The class action lawsuit is pending in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba, Canada.
The Court of Appeal has denied a motion filed by the Manitoba Development Centre to halt certification of a class action lawsuit filed against it by a former resident alleging the centre subjected its residents to physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.
The Manitoba Development Centre’s appeal was denied on April 8 and sets the stage for the Court of Queen’s Bench in Manitoba to hear the class action lawsuit.
Plaintiff David Weremy claims in his class action lawsuit that the Manitoba Development Centre — which provides housing for individuals with developmental disabilities — has been mistreating its residents for decades.
Weremy wants to represent himself and a Class of residents who were at the facility anytime between July 1, 1951 and May 29, 2020 who were still alive as of Oct. 31, 2016.
Residents Claims Abuse at Manitoba Development Centre
Weremy — who says he was born with an intellectual disability and admitted to the MDC when he was around 14 — claims residents at the Centre had very little control over their own lives and were subjected to inadequate care from staff at the facility.
The plaintiff claims he tried to run away nine times from the facility, was sexually assaulted by his fellow residents, and physically assaulted by staff members.
A report filed by the Department of Health and Social Development back in 1973 criticized the Manitoba Development Centre for issues related to understaffing, inadequate plumbing, overcrowding, and lack of privacy, among other things, according to the class action lawsuit.
Weremy also cites a report done in 1987 by the Manitoba Ombudsman which found the facility was “undesirable for residents,” and expressed concern over unexplained injuries suffered by residents, including one death that was linked to the facility staff.
“However, notwithstanding various reports on the conditions and failures of residential care at MDC and various recommendations, no adequate internal safeguards were put into place to improve the quality of care or living at MDC,” states the class action lawsuit.
Weremy argues the Crown failed to properly address abuses that had been reported at the MDC. He has also lobbied negligence and breach of fiduciary duty claims against the Government of Manitoba.
Do you believe the Manitoba Development Centre mistreated its residents? Let us know in the comments!
The plaintiff is represented by David Rosenfeld and Nathalie Gondek of Koskie Minsky LLP.
The Manitoba Development Centre Class Action Lawsuit is Weremy v. The Government of Manitoba, Case No. CI18-01-17220, in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba, Canada.
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