TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2010 /CNW/ -- There is a class action lawsuit involving the Huronia Regional Centre ("Huronia"), which was a residential facility operated by the Province of Ontario that provided care and treatment to persons with developmental disabilities from 1876 to 2009. The facility was located in Orillia, Ontario and was known by various names, including the Ontario Hospital School and the Hospital for the Feeble-Minded. The Court has now approved this class action to proceed to trial on behalf of former residents.

The lawsuit says the Province of Ontario failed to properly care for and protect the residents of Huronia and that residents were emotionally, physically, and psychologically traumatized by their experiences at the facility. The Province of Ontario denies these claims. The Court has not decided whether the Class or the Province of Ontario is right, but approved it to proceed as a class action on behalf of the "Class," or group of people.

The Court appointed the law firm of Koskie Minsky LLP from Toronto, Ontario to represent the Class as "Class Counsel." In statement Class Counsel, Kirk Baert explains, "Now that the procedural hurdles for this class action are behind us, we are looking forward to moving to trial to seek justice for the former residents of Huronia and to bring the alleged abuses and maltreatment they suffered to light."

The lawsuit affects people who were: Huronia residents any time between 1945 and 2009; family members of Huronia residents between 1978 and 2009; or estate trustees for a Huronia resident between 1945 and 2009 who died after April 21, 2007. There is no money available now and no guarantee that there will be.

Class Members do not have to pay Class Counsel, or anyone else, in order to participate. If any money or benefit is obtained, Class Counsel will request fees and costs from the Court, which would be deducted from any money obtained, or paid separately by the Province of Ontario. Class Members may hire their own lawyer to appear in Court, with leave of the court, on their behalf at their own expense.

Class Members do not need to do anything to stay in the Class. They will be legally bound by all orders and judgments of the Court, and cannot sue the Province of Ontario about the legal claims in this case. If money or benefits are obtained, they will be notified about how to ask for a share. Staying in the Class will not impact the residence or services and supports received by Class Members from community based agencies funded by the Province of Ontario.

Class Members who want to keep the right to sue the Province of Ontario over the claims in this case need to opt out or remove themselves from the Class. They will not get any money or benefits if any are awarded. All requests to be removed must be made in writing postmarked no later than June 30, 2011. Details on how to be removed can be found at www.huroniaclassaction.ca.

Some Class Members may have difficulty reading, so we are asking for the help from family members, caregivers and friends of former residents in getting information to them. Please show this notice to people who are impacted by this lawsuit or to their caregivers.

More detailed information on this lawsuit is available on the website at www.huroniaclassaction.ca. You may also call toll-free 1-866-879-4915 (TTY: 1-877-627-7027); write to: Huronia Class Action Administrator, 3-505, 133 Weber Street North, Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 3G9; or email: huronia@crawco.ca.

Class Members who are having a difficult time dealing with the issues in this lawsuit can call 1-866-879-4915 (TTY: 1-877-627-7027) for assistance.

 
 
For further information: David Rosenfeld, +1-416-595-2700 Web Site: http://www.huroniaclassaction.ca