A class action lawsuit against the province’s Child Welfare branch and the Alberta Public Trustee has been certified by the Alberta Court for children injured while in care.
Three representative plaintiffs, who were under the care of Child Welfare as minors, allege the provincial departments failed to pursue criminal injury compensation and personal injury clams for children in its care.
The plaintiffs, who are not identified due to a mandatory publication ban, are seeking damages on their own behalf, and on behalf of children in custody of Child Welfare between July 1, 1966, and Feb. 19, 2008, who suffered personal injury.
The class action includes those in custody as a permanent ward, under a permanent or temporary guardianship order, or under a permanent guardianship agreement for whom the province did not make a injury claim or start a civil action to obtain compensation on their behalf.
The class action lawsuit automatically includes people who meet the criteria.
If people do not want to participate in the lawsuit, they must opt out by sending a letter to Klein Lyons, 400 1385 West 8th Ave., Vancouver, B.C., V6H 3V9.
The letter must be received and postmarked no later than May 4.
Those who do want to participate should contact lawyers representing the lawsuit to be put on a mailing list for updates on the status of the lawsuit.
For more information, contact the following lawyers:
• Robert P. Lee Professional Corp., of Edmonton, at 780-438-4972; website www.victimsrightslaw.ca.
• Docken & Company, of Calgary, at 403-269-3612; website www.docken.com.
• Klein Lyons, of Vancouver, at 604-874-7171; website www.kleinlyons.com.