Marist Brothers sexual abuse lawsuit: $25 million settlement reached

Sexual abuse victims have reached a $25 million settlement with the Marist Brothers religious congregation over several decades.

An out-of-court settlement has been reached between the Marist Brothers religious congregation and victims of sexual abuse, just days before the trial was set to begin.

“The class-action lawsuit we have been handling for several years against the Marist Brothers, which was scheduled to proceed to trial on the merits starting Tuesday for a period of two months, was settled out of court late Thursday evening,” Robert Kugler, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, confirmed to The Canadian Press on Monday.

As with all class-action lawsuits in Quebec, the out-of-court settlement must be approved by the court. The hearing will take place on May 25 at the Quebec City courthouse.

“The court must ensure that the settlement is fair and reasonable and in the best interests of the members. This is not a mere formality, but in our firm, we never settle a class action unless we are convinced that the settlement is fair and reasonable. It is for this reason that we are prepared to file this motion to have the settlement approved,” stated Kugler.

Victims who file a claim will share a total of approximately $25 million.

The process will be handled exclusively by attorneys. “The Marist Brothers will have no say, no right to challenge, and no involvement in the claims process. This is just as important as the settlement amount, because it allows us to remove the obstacles that victims of sexual assault face when seeking justice,” said Kugler.

The lawyer made a point of clarifying that no victim will be cross-examined by the Marist Brothers or subjected to a medical examination. “The victim will have the right to submit a claim form confidentially and will meet with a retired judge,” he said.

Twenty-four victims have come forward so far, one of whom is now 89 years old.

“This person has been suffering in silence for over 70 years. We want the victims to receive substantial compensation while they are still alive and can use it to improve their lives,” said Kugler.

The class-action lawsuit was authorized by the Superior Court of Quebec on Jan. 24, 2023.

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 6, 2026.