A sexual abuse victim files a class action suit against the Jewish General Hospital for alleged sexual abuse in the early 1980s. Other potential victims are invited to join the proceedings.
The request for class action against the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, which oversees the Jewish General Hospital, was filed last Thursday with the Superior Court of Quebec. The alleged victim is identified by the initials C.K.
C. K was a young man of six years old at the time of the events. After his admission to the Department of Child Psychiatry, he allegedly suffered sexual abuse on numerous occasions while he was hospitalized there for almost two years.
The attacks were allegedly committed by two former social workers employed by the hospital, Gino Londei and Steve Trowbridge. C.K. was allegedly abused by these two individuals in a “withdrawal room” where he was isolated by Londei and Trowbridge as punishment. Trowbridge also allegedly asked him to fondle his genitals in exchange for toys.
According to C. K.’s lawyer, Me Jessica Lelièvre, it is possible that the two employees have died since the alleged events.
If it is proven that the establishment knew or should have known that such assaults were being committed, the personal liability of the hospital could also be invoked.
According to C. K., the sexual abuse he allegedly suffered left him with “profound consequences” such as symptoms of post-traumatic shock, anxiety and alcoholism.
He is seeking non-pecuniary damages of $250,000. He is also seeking monetary damages and punitive damages, the amount of which will remain to be determined for each victim.
Although there is currently no evidence to know whether the two men would have caused other victims, the procedure filed explains that they both worked for several years in the child psychiatry department. Their functions would have given them “authority and significant power over several cohorts of very vulnerable children”.
In his application, C. K. claims to have seen the two individuals bring other children into the “withdrawal room” on several occasions.
This is why Me Lelièvre invites anyone who may have been a victim of Gino Londei and Steve Trowbridge to write to him, or to fill out the form on the website of the Trudel Johnston law firm
“We are there for them and to hear them, these are not easy situations and it takes a lot of courage for people to move forward,” explains Me Lelièvre. I am convinced that there will be several members of our collective action. »
For its part, the CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal explains that it does not wish to “comment on a case that is currently before the courts.”
