Two Class Actions Concerning Staffing-Related Lockdowns in Ontario Prisons Certified
TORONTO, Nov. 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Two class actions concerning staffing-related lockdowns in Ontario prisons have been certified by the Honourable Justice Glustein of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
The Defendants in the two class actions, Ontario and Canada, consented to the certification of these matters.
Lapple v Ontario concerns a class of prisoners in Ontario provincial correctional institutions and Dadzie v. Ontario and Canada concerns a group of immigrant detainees, detained by the Canadian Border Services Agency, and housed in Ontario provincial correctional institutions. The cases cover the period from May 30, 2009 to November 27, 2017.
Class counsel in Dadzie v Ontario and Canada is Koskie Minsky LLP and Henein Hutchison LLP. Class Counsel in Lapple v Ontario is Koskie Minsky LLP, McKenzie Lake LLP and Champ and Associates.
The two class actions allege that Ontario was negligent and breached prisoners' rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by locking prisons down for extended periods as a result of understaffing, province-wide. It is alleged that Class Members suffered significant physical and psychological damages as a result of these extended and common lockdowns. It is alleged that Canada was negligent in placing Class Members in provincial correctional institutions, while knowing of their substandard conditions.
Kirk Baert of Koskie Minsky stated "Ontario has reached a new low in institutional standards. The abhorrent conditions in our prisons should not go unnoticed."
Scott Hutchison of Henein Hutchison stated "Governments are judged by how they treat their prisoners – by that standard the government in Ontario should be judged very poorly."
Jon Ptak of Koskie Minsky stated "Ontario prisoners are deserving of the same Charter protections as other Canadians. We are eager to give this under-represented group the access to justice they deserve."
SOURCE Koskie Minsky LLP
For further information: For media enquiries call Jon Ptak of Koskie Minsky at 416-595-2149.
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