A Quebec Superior Court judge approved a class-action lawsuit against a former principal who is accused of sexual abuse and the English Montreal School Board .The legal action, which seeks $16.2 million in damages and interest, targets the English Montreal School Board and a former principal who was accused of sexually assaulting former students.
Former students allege they were sexually abused by Phillip Hart Baugniet while he was a principal or a teacher between the 1960s and the 1990s at three EMSB schools — FACE, Victoria School and Lachine High School.Pierre Boivin, the lawyer representing the lead plaintiff in the class action, said his client is relieved.
His client filed "not only on his behalf, but to help other victims so he's proud," said Boivin, calling the situation stressful. "He should be proud. He knows that we would all go forward to the trial, if needed, for justice to be rendered." The class-action application mentions that, during the 1988-1989 school year, C. was allegedly sexually assaulted during a trip organized by Baugniet at his farm in Cornwall, Ontario.None of these allegations have been proven in court, but a criminal case is underway.Last October, the Ontario Provincial Police said Baugniet, who now lives in British Columbia, had been accused of sexually assaulting six students in the 1970s, 80s and 90s in South Stormont Township, Ont.