Quebec judge approves class action lawsuit against former EMSB school principal over sexual assault allegations

A Quebec Superior Court judge has granted a class action lawsuit against a former principal of a Montreal school accused of sexual abuse by former students.

The lawsuit, which seeks $16.2 million in damages and interest, is also directed against the English Montreal School Board (EMSB). The EMSB was created in 1998 as part of Quebec’s 1997-1998 reform.

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

Last year, lawyers for the former students filed a class action lawsuit.

Pierre Boivin, the lead plaintiff’s attorney in the class action lawsuit, said his client was relieved.

The alleged victim was “destroyed by the sexual abuse” and his life was “completely impaired,” said Boivin.

His client filed the lawsuit “not only in his own name, but also to help other victims, and that’s why he is proud,” Boivin said, calling the situation stressful. “He should be proud. He knows that we would all go to trial if necessary to ensure justice.”

The lead plaintiff, identified only as “C.”, is a man in his early 40s who was allegedly sexually abused by Baugniet while studying at FACE.

The class action lawsuit mentions that C. was allegedly sexually abused during the 1988/89 school year 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 criminal proceedings are ongoing.

The plaintiff 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 abusing six female students in South Stormont Township, Ontario, in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.

He was accused of numerous crimes under the former Criminal Code of 1970, including:

• Seven cases of indecent sexual abuse of a man.
• Two cases of sexual assault.
• Three cases of sexual harassment.
• Sodomy.
• Sexual abuse of a person under 16 years of age.

The investigation began in May last year after Montreal police contacted the OPP.

Baugniet was later arrested by the OPP at a police station in Victoria, British Columbia and released from custody following a bail hearing.

An EMSB spokesman said on Saturday that the panel would not comment on the case because it was before the courts.

CBC News attempted to contact Baugniet’s lawyer about the criminal case but did not receive a response by the time of publication.