On March 27, 2026, our firm filed an application for authorization to institute a class action against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Nicolet and the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Nicolet. 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 Nicolet.
Our clients’ stories
All three of our clients were sexually abused by a member of the clergy when they were minors.
Our first client was a victim of sexual abuse at the age of nine at the hands of Father Martin Moulin, while he was living at the Christ-Roi Orphanage-Hospital in Nicolet. At the time, Abbé Moulin used the evening confession as a pretext to isolate our client and commit his bastards.
Our second client was sexually abused twice at the hands of Father Théophile Côté at the age of nine, while they were preparing to serve morning mass at the church of Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover.
Our third client was sexually assaulted by Father Josaphat Rousseau around 1977 in the municipality of Lemieux, when he was twelve years old.
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 Nicolet 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 Nicolet and the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Nicolet 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 Nicolet and/or the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Nicolet who have exercised their authority over the Diocese of Nicolet, until the judgment to be made.
Territory of the Diocese of Nicolet
The Diocese of Nicolet is located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River and covers part of the Centre-du-Québec and Montérégie regions. It includes the cities of Nicolet, Drummondville, Bécancour and Victoriaville.
Applications lodged with the Court
Application for authorization to file 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.