Two former students of St. Matthew Catholic High School in Ottawa have initiated a $220-million class-action lawsuit against the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) and former teacher Rick Despatie (a.k.a. Rick Watkins) for alleged mishandling of sexual abuse incidents. Despatie was convicted of various charges, including sexual assault and criminal harassment, last September, and is currently appealing the verdict.
The lawsuit, filed in December, accuses the school board of receiving numerous complaints about Despatie’s actions over the years but failing to take appropriate action. It alleges that the board, along with school officials, downplayed and discounted multiple complaints. The two main plaintiffs, identified as Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2, were students in Despatie’s Grade 7 math class, and the class action extends to all students who were sexually assaulted by Despatie between Jan. 1, 1989, and April 30, 2021.
The suit contends that Despatie’s inappropriate conduct, including groping, went unaddressed despite complaints made to school officials. The OCSB is accused of failing to preserve documents related to complaints and neglecting staff training on handling misconduct complaints.
The class action seeks $50 million in damages from Despatie for sexual assault, breach of duty, and negligence, among other charges. It also demands $50 million from the OCSB for Despatie’s actions and the alleged breach of the Occupiers’ Liability Act, along with damages for the families of the victims. Additional claims include aggravated damages, punitive damages, and special damages for lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses.
Both Despatie and the OCSB have stated their intent to defend against the lawsuit. Despatie, who intends to self-represent, disputes some claims in the statement, including his guilt on specific charges.
The victims, identified as Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2, continue to suffer from emotional, physical, and psychological harm, as outlined in the statement of claim. The lawsuit seeks to hold Despatie and the OCSB accountable for their alleged negligence and misconduct, asserting that the victims’ lives were significantly impacted by the defendants’ wrongful actions.