N.L. judge rules that 59 abuse victims who had their claims rejected should be compensated

In a significant victory for 59 abuse survivors, the ongoing legal battle against an insolvent Roman Catholic archdiocese in St. John’s has taken a positive turn. The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador ruled in favor of the survivors, who had previously seen their claims for compensation rejected.

The survivors, hailing from St. John’s to British Columbia, had applied for compensation through a court-appointed mediator last year. The court-approved claims process initially disallowed the claims of these individuals. However, Justice Garrett A. Handrigan’s recent decision overturned these rejections, stating that the survivors are entitled to compensation from the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John’s (RCECSJ).

The compensation process involved 367 abuse survivors seeking redress for the harm they endured. Last July, a $105-million settlement was approved for the victims, with an average payment of nearly $360,000 per claimant. Despite this positive development, some claims were rejected by the claims officer, leading to the appeal by the 59 survivors.

Geoff Budden, a lawyer representing a significant portion of the successful appellants, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision. The Roman Catholic archdiocese in St. John’s has been selling off properties to raise funds for compensating abuse survivors, with approximately $44 million realized from this effort.

The legal battle has established the archdiocese’s responsibility for the abuse suffered by young boys at the Mount Cashel orphanage, as well as at the hands of clergy and members of lay religious orders. Following the court’s approval of an interim payment of $22 million for nearly 300 survivors, efforts are ongoing to secure additional funds from insurance companies and other parties to fulfill the settlement.

Handrigan’s ruling addressed various categories of rejected claims, including those involving previous settlements with the provincial government and the Christian Brothers of Ireland. The decision also highlighted the plight of 12 claimants from British Columbia who were abused by Christian Brothers transferred from St. John’s to the west coast.

As the claims officer reviews the files of the 59 survivors to determine compensation amounts, the legal battle continues to unfold. The survivors’ quest for justice and compensation serves as a pivotal moment in a decades-long controversy that has shaken the Catholic faith in Newfoundland and Labrador. With ongoing efforts to secure additional funds and resolve legal disputes, the survivors are one step closer to obtaining the redress they rightfully deserve.