A $30 million settlement agreement has been proposed to address a class-action lawsuit involving former students of two Catholic schools in Metro Vancouver. The settlement, which would resolve claims against Vancouver College Limited and St. Thomas More in Burnaby, is pending approval from the B.C. Supreme Court.
The agreement, reached without a trial, would allow former students who attended St. Thomas More between 1976 and 1989 and Vancouver College between 1976 and 2013 and who allege abuse by a current or former member of the Christian Brothers to seek compensation if the settlement is approved.
The lawsuit originated with former Vancouver College student Darren Liptrot, who publicly disclosed allegations of abuse by Edward English, a known abuser at Mount Cashel in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Christian Brothers, who oversaw Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate, were linked to the abuse at Mount Cashel.
In 2021, Liptrot filed his lawsuit, which was subsequently certified as a class action by the B.C. Supreme Court in March 2023. The proposed settlement, if approved, would prevent class members from pursuing further legal claims against the defendants involved in the settlement.
Both schools, St. Thomas More and Vancouver College, have expressed support for the proposed settlement, viewing it as a step towards reconciliation and support for abuse survivors. The settlement would encompass the schools and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver, though individual defendants like English are not part of the settlement.
The settlement applies to individuals who attended Vancouver College between 1976 and 2013 and St. Thomas More between 1976 and 1989 and claim abuse by a Christian Brother. It outlines a two-tier compensation process for survivors based on the severity of the abuse and its impact on their lives.
A settlement hearing is scheduled for April 30 and May 1 in Vancouver, where the B.C. Supreme Court will review the proposed claims process and consider legal fees for class counsel.