Victims of sexual assault/ English Montreal School Board and Renwick Spence

On June 7, 2006, Sebastian (fictive name) filed a Motion in the Quebec Superior Court, District of Montreal, to be authorized to exercise a class action against the English Montreal School Board and Renwick Spence.

The class is defined as follows:

All persons physically, mentally and/or emotionally assaulted by Respondent Spence, who from the late 1960’s to early 1980’s, were students at the high school level at Montreal West High School (currently known as Royal West Academy) governed by the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal (currently known as the English Montreal School Board).

The proceeding alleges the liability of the of the EMSB as employer of Spence, a sexual predator, who used his position of authority as a teacher to sexually abuse his students. At all times relevant to the present action, the EMSB was aware or should have been aware of the acts of its employee Spence. The EMSB is responsible for the damages caused by the fault of its employees in the performance of their duties.

The class action was authorized May 4, 2007 by Justice Michel A. Caron of the Superior Court of Quebec. The file is now ready for trial and the trial date has been set for the spring of 2013.