Quebec judge authorizes class action against former CSEM director following sexual assault allegations

A Quebec Superior Court judge has approved a class action against a former Montreal school principal following sexual assault allegations made by former students.

The suit, which seeks to obtain $16.2 million in damages, also targets the English Montreal School Board (CSEM), created in 1998 as part of the 1997-1998 Quebec reform.

Former students allege they were sexually assaulted by Phillip Hart Baugniet while he was a principal or teacher between the 1960s and 1990s at three EMSB schools: FACE, Victoria School and Lachine High School.

Last year, a class-action lawsuit was filed by attorneys representing the former students.

Pierre Boivin, the lawyer representing the lead plaintiff in the class action, said his client was relieved.

The alleged victim was “destroyed by the sexual abuse” and her life was “totally affected,” according to Boivin.

His client filed the complaint “not only on his behalf, but also to help other victims, so he's proud of it,” Boivin said, calling the situation stressful. “He should be proud. He knows that we would all go to trial, if necessary, for justice to be done. »

The main complainant, referred to only as “C.”, is a man in his forties who was allegedly sexually assaulted by Baugniet while he was a student at FACE.

The class action request mentions that, during the 1988-1989 school year, C. was allegedly sexually assaulted during a trip organized by Baugniet to his farm in Cornwall, Ontario.

The trip was part of FACE's school activities.

None of these allegations have been proven in court, but a criminal case is pending.

The complainant was seven years old at the time.

Last October, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said Baugniet, who now lives in British Columbia, was accused of sexually assaulting six students in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s in South Township. Stormont, Ontario.

He was charged with numerous offenses under the old Criminal Code in force in 1970, including:

• Seven counts of indecently assaulting a man.
• Two counts of sexual assault.
• Three counts of sexual battery.
• Sodomy.
• Sexually assaulting a person under 16 years of age.

The investigation began in May of last year after Montreal police contacted the Ontario Provincial Police.

Baugniet was subsequently arrested by the Ontario Provincial Police at a police station in Victoria, British Columbia, and was released from custody following a bail hearing.

A spokesperson for the CSEM said Saturday that the board would not comment on the case since it is before the courts.

CBC News attempted to contact Baugniet's lawyer for the criminal case but did not receive a response in time for publication.