{"settlement":{"id":"nova-scotia-deaf-schools-2026","slug":"nova-scotia-deaf-schools-2026","title":"Nova Scotia Deaf Schools Class Action","category":"Government and Public Services","status":"Claims closed","tags":{"industry":["Government services"],"geographic":["Nova Scotia","Canada-wide"],"recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Self-attestation only","Identity verification required"],"eligibilityTrigger":["Used a service","Was a student"]},"classDefinition":"People who attended and/or resided at the School for the Deaf in Halifax, Nova Scotia or the Interprovincial School for the Education of the Deaf in Amherst, Nova Scotia as Residential, Day or Vocational Students at any time between 1913 and 1995, and who were alive on or after January 31, 2019. Vocational Students are eligible only if they first attended as a Residential and/or Day Student. Estates of class members who died on or after January 31, 2019 may claim half of the Systemic Harms Payment.","plainLanguageSummary":"If you attended the Halifax School for the Deaf or the Amherst School as a residential, day, or vocational student between 1913 and 1995 and were alive on or after January 31, 2019, you may be eligible for a cash payment based on how long you attended, with additional amounts of $90,000 to $150,000 for serious physical or sexual abuse. Where you live now does not affect your eligibility. You can live anywhere in Canada or abroad today; what matters is where the events happened.","eligibilityCriteria":[],"recoveryRange":"Varies by student type, years attended, and harm level","filingInstructions":"Download the claim form from www.NSDeafSchoolsClassAction.com, or contact the Administrator by email at info@NSDeafSchoolsClassAction.com or by phone at 1-888-999-9616 to have it sent to you\nComplete Section A of the claim form (required for the Systemic Harms Payment), answering all required questions to the best of your ability\nInclude a photocopy of the front and back of a valid government-issued ID, or complete the statutory declaration in Schedule A if you do not have one\nComplete Section B only if you want to claim an Independent Assessment Process Payment for sexual abuse or significant physical abuse\nComplete Section C if you would like to participate in a Sharing Circle (optional)\nSign the claimant declaration\nMail the completed claim form to NS Deaf Schools Class Action Administrator, c/o Verita Global, P.O. Box 3355, London, ON N6A 4K3, or email it as a PDF to info@NSDeafSchoolsClassAction.com, so it is received no later than September 21, 2026\nKeep a copy of your completed claim form and any attached documents for your records","caseBackground":"This class action is about two schools for Deaf students in Nova Scotia that are now closed: the Halifax School for the Deaf and the Amherst School (formerly the Interprovincial School for the Education of the Deaf). The lawsuit alleged that the Province of Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority were negligent in how they ran the schools, causing harm to students, including punishment for using sign language, physical and verbal abuse, and humiliating treatment.\n\nA judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia approved a settlement on November 28, 2025, finding it fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of the class. The defendants will pay a maximum of $36 million to former students, plus $3 million for restorative Sharing Circles and support programs for the Deaf community. Former students can claim a Systemic Harms Payment based on their time at the schools, and those who suffered serious physical or sexual abuse can also claim through a private Independent Assessment Process.","administratorName":"Verita Global LLC","administratorContacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-888-999-9616"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.NSDeafSchoolsClassAction.com"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"info@NSDeafSchoolsClassAction.com"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"NS Deaf Schools Class Action Administrator c/o Verita Global P.O. Box 3355 London, ON N6A 4K3"}],"administratorRole":"claims","agentName":"","agentContacts":[],"agentClaimFormHelp":false,"classCounselName":"Wagners","classCounselContacts":[{"type":"email","label":"","value":"classaction@wagners.co"},{"type":"phone","label":"Local","value":"902-425-7331"},{"type":"phone","label":"Toll-free","value":"1-866-455-1355"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"Wagners 1869 Upper Water Street Suite PH 301, Pontac House Historic Properties Halifax, NS B3J 1S9"}],"classCounselFirms":[{"name":"Wagners","region":"All provinces and territories across Canada","contacts":[{"type":"email","label":"","value":"classaction@wagners.co"},{"type":"phone","label":"Local","value":"902-425-7331"},{"type":"phone","label":"Toll-free","value":"1-866-455-1355"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"Wagners 1869 Upper Water Street Suite PH 301, Pontac House Historic Properties Halifax, NS B3J 1S9"}]}],"submissionMethods":[{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"NS Deaf Schools Class Action Administrator, c/o Verita Global, P.O. Box 3355, London, ON N6A 4K3"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"info@NSDeafSchoolsClassAction.com"}],"sourceDocuments":[{"url":"/uploads/a99963a2faffc45a0aa3ae1f-v2_agpq_phaseii_noticelongform_030526_final.pdf","title":"Notice to Class Members"},{"url":"/uploads/1ff15859946835f69e8c4e43-v7_agpq_eligibleclassmemberclaim_031726_final-web.pdf","title":"Claim Form"},{"url":"/uploads/4ef91433f88285374ec7c676-compensation_guide.pdf","title":"Additional Settlement Document"}],"shortFormNoticeUrl":"","longFormNoticeUrl":"/uploads/a99963a2faffc45a0aa3ae1f-v2_agpq_phaseii_noticelongform_030526_final.pdf","settlementAgreementUrl":"","claimFormDocumentUrl":"/uploads/1ff15859946835f69e8c4e43-v7_agpq_eligibleclassmemberclaim_031726_final-web.pdf","claimForms":[{"id":"4aaa2d746227","url":"/uploads/1ff15859946835f69e8c4e43-v7_agpq_eligibleclassmemberclaim_031726_final-web.pdf","name":"Eligible Class Member Claim Form","language":"en","description":"This form is for completion by Eligible Class Members. Eligible Class Members are people who attended and/or resided at the School for the Deaf in Halifax, Nova Scotia or the Interprovincial School for the Education of the Deaf in Amherst, Nova Scotia, as Residential, Day or Vocational Students at any time between 1913 and 1995, and who were alive on or after January 31, 2019."},{"id":"f4ef7cd98522","url":"/uploads/2663549a68d988571c8ba257-v9_agpq_eligibleestateclaim_031726_final-web.pdf","name":"Eligible Estate Claim Form","language":"en","description":"This form is for estate representatives claiming compensation on behalf of an Eligible Class Member who died on or after January 31, 2019."},{"id":"32f7d012cf9e","url":"/uploads/17b0059fec3a709f43360b18-v8_agpq_eligiblerepresentativeclaim_031726_final-web.pdf","name":"Eligible Representative Claim Form","language":"en","description":"This form is for a Personal Representative claiming compensation on behalf of a living Eligible Class Member who lacks mental capacity."}],"claimFormsButtonLabel":"claim-form","claimFormsUnavailable":false,"claimFormsUnavailableReason":"","claimFormGuides":[],"additionalDocuments":[],"optOutFormUrl":"","optOutInstructions":"","objectionFormUrl":"","objectionInstructions":"","faqs":[{"answer":"Every eligible class member can receive a Systemic Harms Payment based on years of attendance: residential students receive $10,000 for one year or less, rising to $20,000 for four years plus $1,000 for each additional year, while day and vocational students receive one third of those amounts. Living class members who suffered serious physical or sexual abuse can also claim an Independent Assessment Process Payment of $90,000 to $100,000 (Level 1) or $140,000 to $150,000 (Level 2). Final amounts may be adjusted depending on how many people apply.","question":"How much money can I receive?"},{"answer":"The completed claim form must be received by the Administrator no later than September 21, 2026. You will not receive any money if you do not submit a claim form by the deadline.","question":"What is the deadline to file a claim?"},{"answer":"No proof of harm is required for the Systemic Harms Payment; it is a paper process based on your attendance information, and the Administrator will also use records received from the parties. You must include a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID, or complete the statutory declaration in the claim form if you do not have one. For the Independent Assessment Process Payment, you share your experiences at a private meeting with a Claim Evaluator rather than attaching proof to the form.","question":"Do I need to provide proof of what happened to me?"},{"answer":"If the student died on or after January 31, 2019, the person in charge of their estate can complete the Eligible Estate Claim Form and may receive 50% of the Systemic Harms Payment, and must include documents showing they are allowed to act for the estate. No money is available for students who died before January 31, 2019, and estates cannot claim the Independent Assessment Process Payment.","question":"What if the former student has died?"},{"answer":"Yes. An earlier intake form sent to Wagners is not a claim. You must complete and submit the official claim form to Verita Global by September 21, 2026 to be considered under the settlement.","question":"I sent an intake form to Wagners before. Do I still need to file a claim?"}],"eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"attended-schools","text":"Did you attend or live at the Halifax School for the Deaf or the Amherst School (the Interprovincial School for the Education of the Deaf) at any time between 1913 and 1995?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"student-type","text":"Were you a residential student, a day student, or a vocational student at the school(s)?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"A residential student lived at the school, a day student went home at night, and a vocational student did job training at the Amherst School.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"vocational-prior-attendance","text":"If you were only a vocational student, did you first attend as a residential or day student?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"Vocational students qualify only if they first attended as a residential or day student; answer Yes if you were a residential or day student at any point.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"alive-after-2019","text":"Was the former student alive on or after January 31, 2019?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"If the student died on or after January 31, 2019, their estate may claim half of the Systemic Harms Payment; no money is available for students who died before that date.","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":[{"id":"systemic-harms-payment","name":"Systemic Harms Payment","description":"A payment for the harmful experiences many students shared at the schools, such as being punished for using sign language, physical and verbal abuse, and humiliating treatment. Every eligible class member who files a claim is entitled to this payment, with the amount based on how many years they attended and whether they were a residential, day, or vocational student. No proof of harm is required; it is a paper process.","recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Identity verification required"],"recoveryRange":"$10,000 for one year or less as a residential student, rising to $20,000 for four years plus $1,000 for each additional year; day and vocational students receive one third of those amounts ($3,300 to $6,600 plus $330 per additional year). Amounts may be adjusted depending on the number of claims.","eligibilityChecker":null,"eligibilityCriteria":["Attended the Halifax School and/or Amherst School between 1913 and 1995 as a residential, day, or vocational student","Vocational students must have first attended as a residential or day student","Was alive on or after January 31, 2019 (estates of members who died on or after that date may claim 50% of the payment)"]},{"id":"iap-payment","name":"Independent Assessment Process Payment","description":"An additional payment for living class members who experienced serious harm from physical or sexual abuse beyond the shared experiences covered by the Systemic Harms Payment. It involves a private meeting with an independent evaluator, available in person or online with sign language interpreters.","recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Identity verification required"],"recoveryRange":"Level 1: $90,000 to $100,000; Level 2: $140,000 to $150,000. Amounts may be adjusted downwards if there are insufficient funds.","eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"serious-abuse","text":"Did you experience sexual abuse or significant physical abuse at the schools, beyond the shared harmful experiences other students faced?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"living-claimant","text":"Are you the class member yourself, applying while living?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"Estates cannot claim the Independent Assessment Process Payment.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true}]},"eligibilityCriteria":["Must be a living eligible class member (estates cannot claim, except where the member died after their Claim Evaluation Session and would have been approved)","Experienced sexual abuse or significant physical abuse beyond the harms covered by the Systemic Harms Payment"]}],"proceedings":null,"relatedSlugs":[],"group":null,"cardSummary":"If you went to the Halifax School for the Deaf or the Amherst School between 1913 and 1995, you may be able to claim compensation. Payments depend on how long you attended and what you experienced.","proofRequired":"","claimTime":"","claimAmount":"","coverageStartDate":"1913-01-01","coverageEndDate":"1995-12-31","deadline":"2026-09-21","optOutDeadline":"","objectionDeadline":"","approvalHearingDate":"","approvalHearingDates":[],"approvalPending":false,"resolution":"settlement","judgmentAppealed":false,"seriousHarmEnabled":false,"formHelperEnabled":false,"dateAdded":"2026-08-23","lastUpdated":"2026-09-22","firstPublishedAt":"2026-08-24 01:24:36","claimsOpenedAt":"2026-08-24 01:24:36","lastVerifiedAt":"2026-08-23","languages":["en","fr"]}}