{"id":12215,"date":"2022-04-06T20:01:22","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T20:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/?p=12215"},"modified":"2022-06-06T17:21:12","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T17:21:12","slug":"toronto-lawyers-announce-300-million-class-action-lawsuit-on-behalf-of-cadet-sexual-abuse-victims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/toronto-lawyers-announce-300-million-class-action-lawsuit-on-behalf-of-cadet-sexual-abuse-victims\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Lawyers Announce $300 Million Class Action Lawsuit on Behalf of Cadet Sexual Abuse Victims"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-align: center;\"><i><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">Lead Plaintiff, Hilary Lockhart, describes a \u201cdiscriminatory and sexualized culture\u201d<\/span><\/i><i><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\"> \u00a0<\/span><\/i><b><i><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 16pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }<\/style>\n<div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d3FOGR3TtZg\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-align: justify;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">Hilary Lockhart was only 14 years when she joined the Canadian Cadet Organization. During her time with the organization she was groomed by an instructor named Todd Evans. Her complaints to female supervisors were never escalated beyond the initial report.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-align: justify;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-align: justify;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">Lockhart and her mother, Melissa Lockhart, are spearheading a national class action lawsuit against the organization claiming that the culture in place \u201ccondones and encourages sexual assault and harassment towards young female cadets.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-align: justify;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-align: justify;\"><b><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">The lawsuit cites 245 cases of <a href=\"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/class-actions\/cadets-class-action\/\">sexual misconduct in Cadets Canada<\/a> between 2006 and 2015, some involving adult instructors or reserve officers. Since the official lawsuit filing on March 1, 2022, dozens of potential class members have come forward with additional allegations of a toxic culture of misconduct. It is estimated that the final class size could include hundreds of victims across Canada.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-align: justify;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-align: justify;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">Victims and their representatives will address the latest updates that have come to light on this matter, as well as their intended plan of action.<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\" style=\"margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst\" style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">What:<\/span><\/b><span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0LIVE Press Conference<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\" style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">Who:<\/span><\/b><span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">Hilary Lockhart &amp; additional Plaintiffs, along with Lawyers Michael Blois, Sandra Zisckind, Mathura Santhirasegaram, and Darryl Singer \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst\" style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">Where:<\/span><\/b><span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">Offices of Diamond and Diamond Personal Injury Lawyers, 255 Consumers Road, Floor 5, Toronto, ON M2J 1R3<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\" style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; line-height: 15.6933px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">When:<\/span><\/b><span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt; line-height: 18.5467px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">April 5, 2022 at 11:30 am<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-align: justify; line-height: 15.75pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">Please be advised that the Plaintiffs do not wish for any further contact from media and will not be issuing any statements prior to the press conference. Any direct approach will be viewed as a breach of their privacy.<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-align: justify; line-height: 15.75pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;\"><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;\">All pertinent information will be provided during the above noted<span class=\"apple-converted-space\"> press conference. After the initial statements questions will be fielded by the legal team at Diamond and Diamond.<\/span><\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: Cambria, serif;\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead Plaintiff, Hilary Lockhart, describes a \u201cdiscriminatory and sexualized culture\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0 Hilary Lockhart was only 14 years when she joined the Canadian Cadet Organization. During her time with the organization she was groomed by an instructor named Todd Evans. Her complaints to female supervisors were never escalated beyond the initial report. \u00a0 Lockhart and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5429,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-media","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12215"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12215\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}