Post by : Meena Ariff

Emotional scenes unfolded in a Halifax courtroom on Friday as a Supreme Court justice sanctioned a settlement in a class action case concerning abuse faced by students at two institutions for the deaf.

Justice Peter Rosinski of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court approved a total of $36 million in compensation for former attendees of the School for the Deaf in Halifax and the Interprovincial School for the Education of the Deaf in Amherst, which functioned from 1913 to 1995.

Initiated in 2015, the lawsuit brought to light accounts of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse suffered by former students. The Attorney General of Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority were named for their negligence in safeguarding the students.

Michael Perrier, a leading plaintiff, expressed relief at receiving the court's approval. “We finally have our answer. This is what we've been waiting for,” he stated.

Another representative, Richard Martell, noted that acknowledgment of the abuse will facilitate healing for the affected individuals. “It’s been an emotional day, and I feel relieved. Now, we can begin to move on,” he said.

The settlement encompasses $36 million for the class members, alongside $3 million designated for collective benefits like educational programs and interpretation services, and $2.5 million allocated for managing the settlement costs.

Perrier emphasized that the compensation will aid those who missed educational opportunities and contended with enduring challenges. “We lost much during our childhoods; numerous deaf individuals settle for entry-level jobs when they could have achieved so much more,” he lamented.

Ray Wagner of Wagners Law Firm, which spearheaded the lawsuit, termed the settlement as “monumental” and highlighted its potential as the largest class action compensation in Nova Scotia's history, with around 900 individuals qualifying for the payout.

Additionally, the province and the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority promised to issue a public apology in the future.

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