{"settlement":{"id":"ontario-corrections-staffing-lockdowns-2025","slug":"ontario-corrections-staffing-lockdowns-2025","title":"Ontario Corrections Staffing-Related Lockdowns Class Actions","category":"Government and Public Services","status":"Claims open","tags":{"industry":["Government services"],"geographic":["Ontario"],"recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["No documentation required","Other documentation"],"eligibilityTrigger":["Was incarcerated or detained"]},"classDefinition":"The class includes all current and former inmates of Ontario correctional institutions (as defined in the Ministry of Correctional Services Act) who were remanded, serving a sentence, or imprisoned after violating parole between May 30, 2009 and November 27, 2017, and all persons detained under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act at those institutions during the same period. The Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre, the Ontario Correctional Institute, and the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre are not covered.","plainLanguageSummary":"If you were held as an inmate or immigration detainee at an Ontario correctional institution between May 30, 2009 and November 27, 2017 and experienced 16 or more staffing-related lockdowns, you may be eligible for a cash payment of $2,000 to $68,000. You do not need to live in Ontario to file a claim. Eligibility is based on meeting the class definition, not on where you live today.","eligibilityCriteria":[],"recoveryRange":"$2,000 to $68,000 per claimant","filingInstructions":"Read the Notice of Settlement Approval and the entire Claim Form to see which sections apply to you.\nComplete the Claim Form online through the claims portal at portal.ontjailstafflockdowns.ca, or download or request a paper copy.\nFill in your personal and contact information, then choose which award you are applying for (Basic Recovery only, Differential Impact Award, or Serious Harm Award).\nIf you are applying for a Serious Harm Award, describe what happened and attach any supporting documents such as hospital or medical records.\nIf you were legally incapable of starting a lawsuit before August 2014, also complete and attach a Statute-Barred Claim Form with supporting evidence.\nSign and date the Claim Form, and keep a copy for your records.\nSubmit your completed Claim Form and any documents to the Administrator online, by email, or by mail on or before December 1, 2026.","caseBackground":"Two class action lawsuits, Lapple and Dadzie, were brought against Ontario and Canada on behalf of inmates and immigration detainees held at Ontario correctional institutions. The lawsuits alleged that the governments improperly subjected these people to chronic lockdowns caused by staff shortages, which the lawsuits said were negligent and breached their Charter rights. The governments denied the allegations and the court did not decide who was right.\n\nInstead, the parties agreed to a voluntary settlement, which the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved on October 22, 2025. The settlement creates a $59 million fund to compensate class members who experienced 16 or more staffing-related lockdowns. Eligible people can submit a claim to receive a payment, with the deadline to claim being December 1, 2026.","administratorName":"Deloitte LLP","administratorContacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-844-742-0825"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"info@ontjailstafflockdowns.ca"},{"type":"online","label":"Website","value":"https://ontjailstafflockdowns.ca"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"Ontario Corrections Staffing-Related Lockdowns Class Actions Administrator c/o Deloitte LLP PO Box 7545 STN ADELAIDE Toronto, ON  M5C 0C4"}],"administratorRole":"claims","agentName":"","agentContacts":[],"agentClaimFormHelp":false,"classCounselName":"","classCounselContacts":[],"classCounselFirms":[],"submissionMethods":[{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://portal.ontjailstafflockdowns.ca/"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"claims@ontjailstafflockdowns.ca"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"Ontario Corrections Staffing-Related Lockdowns Class Actions Administrator, c/o Deloitte LLP, PO Box 7545 STN Adelaide, Toronto, ON M5C 0C4"}],"sourceDocuments":[{"url":"/uploads/6bafc2bed3f8891b676f7ee1-long-form-notice-settlement-approval-en-dec1.pdf","title":"Notice to Class Members"},{"url":"/uploads/2f90239c166e93bb2a0a4848-claim-form-en.pdf","title":"Claim Form"},{"url":"/uploads/2a7d9f43b8eaea775c5e8424-long-form-notice-settlement-approval-fr-dec1.pdf","title":"Avis aux membres du groupe"},{"url":"/uploads/a28830b55a78b1a9e255fbed-claim-form-fr.pdf","title":"Formulaire de réclamation"}],"shortFormNoticeUrl":"","longFormNoticeUrl":"/uploads/6bafc2bed3f8891b676f7ee1-long-form-notice-settlement-approval-en-dec1.pdf","settlementAgreementUrl":"","claimFormDocumentUrl":"/uploads/2f90239c166e93bb2a0a4848-claim-form-en.pdf","claimForms":[{"id":"2db7367d25b3","url":"/uploads/2f90239c166e93bb2a0a4848-claim-form-en.pdf","name":"Claim Form","language":"en","description":""},{"id":"51ec10aa129f","url":"/uploads/b6c16dbb7a284347a9d850e1-statute-barred-claim-form-en.pdf","name":"Statute-Barred Claim Form","language":"en","description":"This form is for class members who experienced staffing-related lockdowns before August 2014 and were legally incapable of starting a lawsuit at that time."},{"id":"268fa58bf76b","url":"/uploads/a28830b55a78b1a9e255fbed-claim-form-fr.pdf","name":"Formulaire de réclamation","language":"fr","description":""},{"id":"9e4646166667","url":"/uploads/fde131ff90cfc76cdfb88620-statute-barred-claim-form-fr.pdf","name":"Formulaire de réclamation prescrite","language":"fr","description":"Ce formulaire s'adresse aux personnes détenues en Ontario entre 2009 et août 2014 qui étaient juridiquement incapables d'intenter une poursuite."}],"claimFormsButtonLabel":"claim-form","claimFormsUnavailable":false,"claimFormsUnavailableReason":"","claimFormGuides":[],"additionalDocuments":[],"optOutFormUrl":"","optOutInstructions":"","objectionFormUrl":"","objectionInstructions":"","faqs":[{"answer":"Compensation depends on how many staffing-related lockdowns you experienced and the type of award you qualify for. A Basic Recovery Award ranges from $2,000 to $28,000, a Differential Impact Award ranges from $3,000 to $15,000, and Serious Harm Awards are $20,000 (Level One) or $40,000 (Level Two). The maximum amount available under the Compensation Protocol is $68,000, and all awards may be reduced proportionally if total claims exceed the money available.","question":"How much money can I receive?"},{"answer":"You must submit your Claim Form on or before December 1, 2026. Late claims may be considered in limited circumstances if received within 45 days after that date with written reasons, but after January 15, 2027 it will be too late.","question":"What is the deadline to file a claim?"},{"answer":"You can complete and submit your claim online at portal.ontjailstafflockdowns.ca, or download or request a paper Claim Form and submit it by email or by mail. You do not need a lawyer to file.","question":"How do I file a claim?"},{"answer":"If you are claiming Basic Recovery only or Basic Recovery plus a Differential Impact Award, you do not need to provide supporting documents. If you are claiming a Serious Harm Award, you must provide documents that support your claim, such as hospital records, medical records, or a letter from a health professional.","question":"Do I need to provide supporting documents?"},{"answer":"If you do not submit a claim, you will not receive any money from the settlement, and unless you previously opted out, you will give up the right to sue the governments over staffing-related lockdowns during the covered period.","question":"What happens if I do nothing?"}],"eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"inmate-or-detainee","text":"Were you an inmate or an immigration detainee at an Ontario correctional institution?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"This covers people remanded, serving a sentence, imprisoned after violating parole, or detained under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"time-period","text":"Were you held there at any time between May 30, 2009 and November 27, 2017?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"excluded-institutions","text":"Was your detention only at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre, the Ontario Correctional Institute, or the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"These three institutions are not covered by the settlement.","qualifyingAnswer":"no","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"sixteen-lockdowns","text":"Did you experience 16 or more staffing-related lockdowns?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"A staffing-related lockdown is when detainees are confined to their cells due to staff shortages.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"not-opted-out","text":"Did you stay in the class rather than previously opting out (excluding yourself) in writing?","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":"If you were an inmate or immigration detainee at an Ontario jail between 2009 and 2017 and went through frequent lockdowns caused by staff shortages, you may be able to claim money.","proofRequired":"required","claimTime":"about 20 minutes","claimAmount":"$2,000 to $68,000","coverageStartDate":"2009-05-30","coverageEndDate":"2017-11-27","deadline":"2026-12-01","optOutDeadline":"","objectionDeadline":"","approvalHearingDate":"","approvalHearingDates":[],"approvalPending":false,"resolution":"settlement","judgmentAppealed":false,"seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":false,"formHelperEnabled":false,"dateAdded":"2026-06-11","lastUpdated":"2026-09-06","firstPublishedAt":"2026-06-11","claimsOpenedAt":"2026-06-11","lastVerifiedAt":"2026-06-11","languages":["en","fr"]}}