Plaintiff
Defendant
Other
Background: Darren Liptrot initiated a class action for damages on behalf of students who attended Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate from 1976 to 2013, alleging physical or sexual abuse by members of the Christian Brothers of Ireland in Canada Ltd.
Legal Issues: Whether the court should certify a class action lawsuit brought by Darren Liptrot. He sought to represent a class of students alleging they had been physically or sexually abused by members of the Christian Brothers of Ireland in Canada Ltd. at Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate between 1976 and 2013. The defendants contested the certification, arguing that the proposed common issues were too broadly framed and would necessitate individual trials rather than addressing issues on a class-wide basis. The court had to decide if the class action was the appropriate method to handle the claims.
Held: The court ruled in favor of certifying the class action lawsuit, albeit with narrower parameters than those initially sought by the plaintiff, Darren Liptrot, particularly regarding St. Thomas More Collegiate. The court determined that a class action was a preferable method for resolving the claims, providing a fair and efficient way to manage the allegations of abuse and enhancing access to justice for the class members. This decision acknowledged the complexity and sensitivity of the allegations, opting for a collective rather than individual trial approach.
Costs/Damages Awarded: The document does not specify the total costs or award amounts in favor of the successful party.
Court
Supreme Court of British ColumbiaCase Number
S211242Practice Area
Class actionsAmount
Winner
PlaintiffTrial Start Date
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