English Montréal School Board and Phillip (Hart) Baugniet Sexual Abuse Class Action
Reviewed by Marty Mikhail, lawyer licensed by the Law Society of OntarioLast verified How we verify
Status
Claims not yet openEstimated Payout
Up to $400,000 per person
Approval hearing
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About this claim
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.
Who may be eligible
- 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.
See the questions the eligibility checker asks
The checker asks these questions. Use the Check Eligibility button to answer them and see a result.
- Were you (or the person whose estate you represent) sexually abused by Phillip (Hart) Baugniet?The estate of a person who was abused is included if that person died on or after August 21, 2019.
- Were you under 18 when the abuse happened?
- 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?
Read more
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.
Under 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.
Class Counsel
- Kugler Kandestin, LLP
- Phone514-878-2861
- Me Alexandre Paquette-Dénommé[email protected]
- Me David Stolow[email protected]
- Me Pierre Boivin[email protected]
- Mailing address1800, Av. McGill College, #2700, Montréal (Québec) H3A 3J6
- Websitehttps://www.kklex.com
Proposed Settlement Documents
Opting out
The deadline to opt out was and has passed. Opting out is no longer available. Class members who did not opt out remain in the class and are bound by the outcome.
Objecting
The deadline to object was and has passed. Objections can no longer be filed. The court considers the objections it received when deciding whether to approve the settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stage is this settlement at?
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.
How much compensation could I receive?
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.
How do I make a claim?
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.
Can I still object to the settlement?
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.
Who can I contact for more information?
You can contact Class Counsel at Kugler Kandestin, LLP confidentially by phone at 514-878-2861 or by email at [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]. The EMSB and the Baugniet Estate will have no involvement in the claims process.
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