{"settlement":{"id":"emsb-baugniet-sexual-abuse-2026","slug":"emsb-baugniet-sexual-abuse-2026","title":"English Montréal School Board and Phillip (Hart) Baugniet Sexual Abuse Class Action","category":"Institutional Abuse","status":"Claims not yet open","tags":{"industry":["Government services","Academic institution"],"geographic":["Quebec"],"recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["To be determined"],"eligibilityTrigger":["Experienced abuse or harm"]},"classDefinition":"All persons who, while minors, were sexually abused by Phillip (Hart) Baugniet, where the abuse was caused in connection with and while he was the principal of Lachine High School, Victoria School, or FACE School in Montréal, or held a teaching, management or supervisory position at those schools. The class also includes the estates of such persons who have died since August 21, 2019.","plainLanguageSummary":"If you were sexually abused as a minor by Phillip (Hart) Baugniet while he was principal or held a teaching, management or supervisory role at Lachine High School, Victoria School or FACE School in Montréal, you may be eligible for compensation from a proposed settlement fund of $3,400,000 to $8,725,000, once the court approves it. Eligible people are included wherever they live today.","eligibilityCriteria":["You were sexually abused by Phillip (Hart) Baugniet.","You were a minor (under 18) when the abuse happened.","The abuse happened in connection with and while he was the principal of Lachine High School, Victoria School or FACE School in Montréal, or held a teaching, management or supervisory position at one of those schools.","If the person who was abused has died since August 21, 2019, their estate is also included."],"recoveryRange":{"max":400000,"perUnit":"per person","distribution":"pro_rata"},"filingInstructions":"","caseBackground":"A class action was brought against the English Montréal School Board (EMSB) and the late Phillip (Hart) Baugniet on behalf of people who were sexually abused by him as minors while he was principal, or held a teaching, management or supervisory role, at Lachine High School, Victoria School or FACE School in Montréal. The Plaintiff and the EMSB have reached a proposed settlement agreement.\n\nUnder the proposed agreement, the EMSB will pay a lump sum of $3,400,000 to $8,725,000, which increases with the number of claims found eligible, to a maximum of 46 members. A retired judge acting as Adjudicator will decide each claim and its compensation category, and the EMSB and the Baugniet Estate will have no involvement in the claims process. The Superior Court of Québec scheduled the approval hearing for October 28, 2026, and the claims process can only begin once the court approves the agreement.","administratorName":"","administratorContacts":[],"administratorRole":"claims","agentName":"","agentContacts":[],"agentClaimFormHelp":false,"classCounselName":"Kugler Kandestin, LLP","classCounselContacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"Phone","value":"514-878-2861"},{"type":"email","label":"Me Alexandre Paquette-Dénommé","value":"adenomme@kklex.com"},{"type":"email","label":"Me David Stolow","value":"dstolow@kklex.com"},{"type":"email","label":"Me Pierre Boivin","value":"pboivin@kklex.com"},{"type":"mail","label":"Mailing address","value":"1800, Av. McGill College, #2700, Montréal (Québec) H3A 3J6"},{"type":"online","label":"Website","value":"https://www.kklex.com"}],"classCounselFirms":[{"name":"Kugler Kandestin, LLP","region":"","contacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"Phone","value":"514-878-2861"},{"type":"email","label":"Me Alexandre Paquette-Dénommé","value":"adenomme@kklex.com"},{"type":"email","label":"Me David Stolow","value":"dstolow@kklex.com"},{"type":"email","label":"Me Pierre Boivin","value":"pboivin@kklex.com"},{"type":"mail","label":"Mailing address","value":"1800, Av. McGill College, #2700, Montréal (Québec) H3A 3J6"},{"type":"online","label":"Website","value":"https://www.kklex.com"}]}],"submissionMethods":[],"sourceDocuments":[{"url":"/uploads/d78dc5e19645ae7620325f21-de-pre--approbation---500-06-001221-239-anglais---Copie-finale-avec-date-et-lien.pdf","title":"Notice to Class Members"}],"shortFormNoticeUrl":"","longFormNoticeUrl":"/uploads/d78dc5e19645ae7620325f21-de-pre--approbation---500-06-001221-239-anglais---Copie-finale-avec-date-et-lien.pdf","settlementAgreementUrl":"","claimFormDocumentUrl":"","claimForms":[],"claimFormsButtonLabel":"claim-form","claimFormsUnavailable":false,"claimFormsUnavailableReason":"","claimFormGuides":[],"additionalDocuments":[{"id":"5d2097875604","title":"Settlement Agreement | Non official translation","url":"/uploads/b704b3f6046567653277be75-Settlement-Agreement---Non-official-translation.pdf"}],"optOutFormUrl":"","optOutInstructions":"","objectionFormUrl":"","objectionInstructions":"To object, a class member had to send a written statement to Class Counsel and to the Clerk of the Superior Court of Montréal, for the attention of the Honourable Dominique Poulin, J.S.C., by October 19, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. The statement had to include their contact details, why they believe they are a member, the reasons for the objection, whether they intended to speak at the approval hearing, and their lawyer's details if represented.","faqs":[{"answer":"The settlement is a proposed agreement that must be approved by the Superior Court of Québec before the claims process begins. The approval hearing was scheduled for October 28, 2026 at the Montréal Courthouse and by Microsoft Teams.","question":"What stage is this settlement at?"},{"answer":"The EMSB will pay a lump sum of $3,400,000 to $8,725,000, which increases with the number of claims found eligible, to a maximum of 46 members. A retired judge acting as Adjudicator will decide whether each claim is eligible and which compensation category it falls into.","question":"How much compensation could I receive?"},{"answer":"Claims cannot be filed until the court approves the settlement. The Settlement Agreement, the claims process and the Claim Form each member must submit are available on Class Counsel's website at https://www.kklex.com.","question":"How do I make a claim?"},{"answer":"No. The deadline to send a written objection was October 19, 2026 at 4:30 p.m., and it has passed. Members who had no objection did not need to attend the hearing to benefit from the settlement.","question":"Can I still object to the settlement?"},{"answer":"You can contact Class Counsel at Kugler Kandestin, LLP confidentially by phone at 514-878-2861 or by email at adenomme@kklex.com, dstolow@kklex.com or pboivin@kklex.com. The EMSB and the Baugniet Estate will have no involvement in the claims process.","question":"Who can I contact for more information?"}],"eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"abused-by-baugniet","text":"Were you (or the person whose estate you represent) sexually abused by Phillip (Hart) Baugniet?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"The estate of a person who was abused is included if that person died on or after August 21, 2019.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"abused-as-minor","text":"Were you under 18 when the abuse happened?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"school-connection","text":"Did the abuse happen in connection with and while he was principal, or held a teaching, management or supervisory position, at Lachine High School, Victoria School or FACE School in Montréal?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true}],"uncertainMessage":"Some of your answers were Not sure, so we could not confidently determine your eligibility.","qualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement.","nonQualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you do not appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement."},"claimCategories":[],"proceedings":null,"relatedSlugs":[],"group":null,"cardSummary":"For people who were sexually abused as minors by Phillip (Hart) Baugniet in connection with his role at Lachine High School, Victoria School or FACE School in Montréal. The proposed settlement is awaiting court approval.","proofRequired":"","claimTime":"","claimAmount":"","coverageStartDate":"1966-01-01","coverageEndDate":"1991-12-31","deadline":"","optOutDeadline":"2024-10-09","objectionDeadline":"2026-10-19","approvalHearingDate":"2026-10-28","approvalHearingDates":[{"date":"2026-10-28","label":""}],"approvalPending":false,"resolution":"settlement","judgmentAppealed":false,"seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":true,"formHelperEnabled":false,"dateAdded":"2026-10-31","lastUpdated":"2026-10-31","firstPublishedAt":"2026-11-01 01:18:38","claimsOpenedAt":null,"lastVerifiedAt":"2026-10-31","languages":["en","fr"]}}