Victims of former Quebec boys hockey coach could seek part of $10M settlement

Francois Lamarre, a retired Montreal police officer and former minor league hockey coach in Greenfield Park, Que., appears for his arraignment at the courthouse in Longueuil, Que., on December 19, 2019. (Pierre St-Arnaud/The Canadian Press)

Victims who were sexually abused by former Montreal-area minor hockey coach François Lamarre have one month left to seek compensation for the crimes committed against them.

Last December, a Quebec Superior Court judge authorized a $10.25-million class-action settlement in the case.

Montreal law firm Kugler Kandestin said in a news release on Thursday that victims have until June 17, 2025, to submit a claim.

Lamarre, a former Montreal police officer who retired in 1994, was a boys hockey coach in Greenfield Park for nearly 30 years until 2001.

The former town is now part of the City of Longueuil on Montreal’s South Shore.

Lamarre died in 2020, about seven months after he was charged with gross indecency, indecent exposure, sexual assault, sexual touching and invitation to sexual touching involving four complainants.

One of his victims, John Cormier, launched a class-action lawsuit against the former coach and named the City of Longueuil and Lamarre’s estate as defendants.

The city is set to pay almost all of the multi-million dollar settlement.

Only about $8,000 will come from Lamarre’s estate through the provincial tax collection agency.

Compensation will depend on the level of abuse suffered and could reach a maximum of $600,000 per victim.

Anywhere from $3.6 to $10.25 million can be paid out, according to the settlement.

With files from The Canadian Press.