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A $10 million class action lawsuit has been launched on behalf of the alleged victims of a former Montreal police officer and hockey coach who died awaiting trial on sex-related charges.
The request for authorization filed Sept. 1 by lead plaintiff John Cormier alleges François Lamarre sexually molested at least dozens and possibly hundreds of children over a 30-year period, notably while he was a hockey coach in the city of Greenfield Park (Longueuil).
Class Members covered by the hockey coach sexual assault class action lawsuit Canada include all individuals who “were sexually abused by the late François Lamarre while he was a hockey coach in and for the City of Greenfield Park, as well as the estates of any such individuals who passed away since September 1, 2017.”
Hockey Coach “Abused Power” to “Prey on Vulnerable Children”
The hockey coach sexual assault class action lawsuit names François Lamarre and the City of Longueuil as defendants in the action.
The hockey coach abused the power and authority given to him by the city of Greenfield Park, now part of the city of Longueuil, “to prey upon dozens, if not hundreds, of innocent and vulnerable children during the formative years of their youth, necessarily and automatically causing them serious and irreparable injury,” the hockey coach sexual assault class action alleges.
The claim continues that Longueuil is responsible for the “unlawful behaviour” of the hockey coach and was negligent in failing to ensure the safety of the children enrolled in its hockey program.
A Story of Sexual Assault and Intimidation
John first met François in 1972. François Lamarre was the hockey coach of the minor league. He was constantly “play fighting,” wrestling and rolling on the ground with children, John recalls.
Soon the hockey coach began play fighting with John, alleges the hockey coach sexual assault class action lawsuit, at which time François “would regularly grab Petitioner’s genitals under the guise that he was throwing fake punches to his stomach.”
The lawsuit alleges that John considered the hockey coach’s behaviour to be unusual, but because he was only 10 years old, he did not know what to do or say, and simply hoped the behaviour would stop.
Over time, François’ behaviour allegedly became more serious and abusive.
John escaped numerous attempts of sexual assault by the hockey coach, and the hockey coach sexual assault class action lawsuit claims that the accumulation of events led John to be more and more afraid, confused and unable to protect himself.
“In that regard, Lamarre often had Petitioner accompany him to the police precinct where he worked, showing him prison cells and prisoners, which Petitioner now understands were deliberate attempts by Lamarre to intimidate Petitioner into not complaining about his conduct, failing which he might end up in prison.”
Victims of Abuse Come Forward
On Dec. 19, 2019, the hockey coach was charged with nine criminal counts, (including gross indecency, indecent exposure, sexual assault, sexual touching and invitation to sexual touching) involving four children between the ages of 9 and 16 at the time of the crimes.
However, the hockey coach died in July at the age of 71 before his case could go to trial.
Following François’ arrest in December 2019, other alleged victims came forward, including a Longueuil municipal councillor representing Greenfield Park.
Robert Kugler, one of the lawyers who filed the hockey coach sexual assault class action lawsuit, said he hopes the class action will encourage more of François’ alleged victims to come forward.
“This is the type of situation where we believe victims who have been suffering in silence for as many as 50 years can finally obtain justice,” he said.
In a phone interview, the lawyer told CTV News that class actions have proven useful in recent years when it comes to sexual abuse cases, most notably in cases involving religious orders.
Hockey and Sexual Assault
Other sexual abuse and hockey-related class actions have been filed over recent months in Canada.
In June, a proposed class action lawsuit was commenced against the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) by a former National Hockey League (NHL) player alleging the organization turned a blind eye to abuses suffered by teens playing on the teams comprising the CHL.
Owing to the recent changes to Quebec’s law on time limitations for sexual assault, victims of abuse dating back decades are finally making their voices heard in several sexual assault class action lawsuits.
Two alleged victims of sexual abuse by priests in the 1950s and 1960s have launched a class action lawsuit Canada in August against the Diocese of Quebec.
In another similar Quebec sexual abuse class action lawsuit, 15 victims of alleged sexual assault have made criminal complaints accusing members of the Clerics of St. Viator of sexual abuse.
What do you think about the hockey coach sexual assault class action lawsuit? Share your comments with us below.
John is represented by Kugler Kandestin LLP.
The Hockey Coach Sexual Assault Class Action Lawsuit is John Cormier v. City of Longueuil and The Estate of the Late François Lamarre, Case No. 505-06-000024-203, in the Superior Court of Québec, District of Longueuil, Canada.
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