On May 14, 2026, our firm filed an application for authorization to institute a class action against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Valleyfield and the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Valleyfield. This request seeks compensation for sexual assaults committed by members of the clergy or other persons under the authority of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Valleyfield.
Our clients’ stories
Our three clients were all sexually assaulted by one or more members of the clergy when they were minors.
Our first client was sexually assaulted at the age of twelve or thirteen by Father Pierre Lemieux. Father Lemieux acted as chaplain to the scout group of which our client was a member. He took advantage of this status to abuse her on multiple occasions during car trips and camp stays. Despite denunciations at the time, the defendants contented themselves with moving Father Lemieux to another parish.
Our second client was sexually abused at the age of nine by a vicar, then repeatedly by Fathers Aubry, Sylvio Benoit and Gérard Théorêt. The assaults took place in particular at the church of the parish of Saint-Eugène, when our client was acting as a mass server or bringing back equipment after activities. On some occasions, Fathers Benoit and Théorêt even assaulted our client together.
Our third client was sexually assaulted at the age of nine by Father Gérard Faivre, while she was a mass server at St. Joseph’s Church in the municipality of Huntingdon. Father Faivre isolated him in the sacristy of the church before and after masses to proceed with touching.
Our clients have suffered several after-effects as a result of the sexual assaults and have decided to bring this class action in order to obtain compensation not only for themselves, but also for all other victims of sexual assault.
The proposed class action
In accordance with the Civil Code of Québec, the principal or employer is required to compensate for the injury caused by the fault of its servant or employee when the fault is committed in the performance of the employee’s or employee’s duties. We are therefore prosecuting the legal persons responsible for the activities of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Valleyfield for sexual assaults committed by members of the clergy or other persons under their authority in the course of the Church’s activities.
We are also suing the Roman Catholic Bishop of Valleyfield and the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Valleyfield for their own negligence. Indeed, we maintain that they have not taken the necessary measures to prevent or put an end to sexual abuse and that they have therefore engaged their responsibility.
We are seeking compensatory damages to compensate victims for the harms caused by sexual assault. We are also seeking punitive damages to sanction the intentional violation of the rights to safety, integrity and dignity of victims of sexual assault, rights that are protected by the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
The proposed class
“All persons, as well as their heirs and assigns, who have been sexually assaulted by a member of the clergy, an employee or a volunteer, lay or religious, under the responsibility of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Valleyfield and/or the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Valleyfield.”
Territory of the Diocese of Valleyfield
The Diocese of Valleyfield covers an area of 3,225 km2 and includes twenty-two (22) parishes. It includes the municipalities of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Huntingdon, and the former municipality of Dorion (Vaudreuil).
Applications lodged with the Court
Application for authorization to bring a class action
Current status of the file
Awaiting authorization by a judge of the Superior Court.
How to be part of the class action?
If you meet the definition of the group referred to above, you are automatically part of this class action.
Please feel free to fill out this form confidentially if you believe you are a member of this class action.