Montreal’s Grey Nuns Hit with Class Action Lawsuit Alleging Orphanage Abuse

In its decision released today, the Superior Court of Québec authorized the orphanage abuse class action lawsuit against Montreal’s Grey Nuns religious order. In his decision, Justice Étienne Parent ruled that the evidence presented met the burden of proof for the class action to be authorized and for the trial to take place. The recent authorization comes as a triumph to victims of the orphanage, who suffered physical and sexual abuse at the institution that dates back decades.

The orphanage abuse class action lawsuit was filed in Quebec Superior Court on behalf of a man who resided at the orphanage for approximately a year in the late 1960s. The man reportedly says he endured physical and sexual abuse at the hands of the nuns in charge.

The plaintiff presented himself after seeing reports about a comparable orphanage abuse class action lawsuit filed in 2018 against the Sisters of Charity of Quebec for purported assaults at the order’s Mont d’Youville orphanage in Quebec City, says Lawyer Jean-Daniel Quessy. 

The lead plaintiff, Jacques Beaulieu, says he was about three or four years old when he was physically and psychologically abused by members of the congregation. He also alleges he was consistently sexually assaulted by a priest in whose care he had been placed.

Regarding the similar reports of the other orphanage abuse class action lawsuit against nuns, the plaintiff’s lawyer Jean-Daniel Quessy said, “The facts are kind of similar on multiple levels, so it struck a chord with Mr. Beaulieu when he saw what they were saying about the other case.” Quessy also added that several people have come forward admitting abuse since the orphanage abuse class action lawsuit was filed.

At least a dozen other similar cases are currently before the courts. Recently, five elderly members of the Clerics of St. Viator, a Catholic teaching order, were reportedly arrested by Quebec provincial police over child sexual abuse allegations that spanned decades.

“These are not isolated gestures, but rather repeated systemic attacks, perpetrated by several people, against several victims over a long period,” the report states. “The Grey Nuns have failed to put in place security and surveillance policies and measures to prevent or put an end to sexual, physical, and psychological assault.”

The plaintiff claims he was in the nuns’ care for about a year accompanied by his late sister Manon around 1968 or 1969, while his mother suffered from depression stemming from a divorce.

In the orphanage abuse class action lawsuit, Jacques alleges many experiences of physical abuse. He includes allegations of being hit with a leather belt if he was still awake after bedtime, being force fed to the point of vomiting, and being beaten with wooden rulers, or slapped with an open hand.

He also alleges that a priest, who was given the task of driving children to Sunday mass, sexually abused him in the car. 

Jacques says the physical and sexual abuse he endured has had lasting impacts on his life. He claims he was homeless as a teenager, still suffers from stress and anxiety, and he struggles to keep a steady job.

The orphanage abuse class action lawsuit also claims that the plaintiff’s sister, who died last year, also reported sexual and physical abuse at the hands of the nuns during the time she lived at the orphanage.

“It’s unthinkable for us that the defendant as an organization wouldn’t know about this,” Quessy said.

It’s important to note that people who have already been compensated for abuse in church-run organizations through a separate program for the “Duplessis orphans” are not included by the proposed orphanage abuse class action lawsuit.

“The objective is a dual one, the first and most important in my experience is not so much the money but to free themselves from a very difficult burden to bear,” Quessy said. “It’s very often an important step for people to grieve and heal themselves.”

The other aspect of orphanage abuse class action lawsuits is monetary. The system failed to protect children like the plaintiff from abuse from nuns and others. The harm sustained from abuse as a child has lasting consequences into adulthood. Quessy believes these people must be compensated.

The orphanage abuse class action lawsuit does not mention any damages, and Quessy said that’s something that would be argued before a judge and would depend on certain factors, like specific injuries sustained.

These allegations have not yet been proven. The orphanage housed 78,200 children over its history.

The orphanage abuse class action lawsuit is on behalf of any person who has been a victim of physical, psychological or sexual abuse by the order or anyone entrusted into its care, between 1925 and 1972, at the Creche d’Youville.

The accusations have not been tested in court, and the action has not yet been approved by a judge.

Now that the class action lawsuit has been authorized, the coming proceedings could potentially last three to four years if there’s no settlement and it goes to trial.

Top Class Actions will continue to post updates as they become available. Click on the “Follow Article” at the top of this page to get the latest updates about the orphanage abuse class action lawsuit by using your free Top Class Actions account. For the latest updates, keep checking ca.TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter.

Do you think the proposed orphanage abuse class action lawsuit will be successful in obtaining compensation for potential Class Members? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

The plaintiff is represented by the law firms Quessy-Henry-St-Hilaire and Kugler Kandestin. 

The Orphanage Abuse Class Action Lawsuit is Jacques Beaulieu v. Les Soeurs Grises de Montréal, Case No. 500-06-001082-201, in the Superior Court of Québec, District of Montreal, Canada. 

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