Anticipated Justice the class action suit claiming that the Ontario government systematically failed to take all necessary steps to protect the legal rights and claims of children in its care. 

In Ontario, a child may be removed from the care of his or her parents and put into the care of the Province for reasons that include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or neglect. In Ontario, permanent wards for whom the Province has legal responsibility are called Crown wards.

Crown wards were victims of criminal abuse, neglect and tortious acts as children, and as a result of which, were removed from the care of their families and placed under the care of the Province of Ontario. These children were also victims of abuse, neglect, and tortious acts while they were under the age of 18 and in the care of Ontario.

As a result of the crimes and torts committed against them prior to and during their Crown Wardship, the class members were entitled to apply for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and to commence proceedings for civil damages.

The suit claims the province failed to take all necessary steps to protect the rights of Crown wards to apply for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board or to file personal injury claims for children who were abused prior to or while in the care of the Province.

The class action includes all children who were Crown wards at any time from January 1, 1966, the date that the Province of Ontario voluntarily accepted legal responsibility and guardianship of Crown wards.

“Ontario Crown Wards represent an enormously vulnerable group requiring tremendous physical, emotional and legal protection.” declared Jonathan Ptak, co-lead counsel in this class action.

Christopher Watkins stated “As a result of the Crown’s systemic failure and inaction, Crown Wards in Ontario have seen their ability to seek civil damages and compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board evaporate.”

Sandy Zaitzeff, co-lead counsel in this class action, notes that because the Crown failed to act, “limitation periods have expired, evidence has disappeared, and Crown Wards who were victims of criminal and tortious acts have not received compensation that would otherwise have played a vital role in their recovery and development.”

Ontario Crown wards and former Ontario Crown wards are encouraged to visit www.watkinslawforthepeople.com, email  or call 807-345-4455 or visit www.kmlaw.ca/ocwclassaction, or call      

Call  1 (866) 778-7985 to provide information about their Wardship to support the case and to be in a position to make a claim, if the case is successful.

Jonathan Ptak (of Koskie Minsky LLP) and Sandy Zaitzeff (of Watkins Law Professional Corporation) are lead counsel in this proposed class action. The claim was issued in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Koskie Minsky LLP, based in Toronto, is one of Canada’s foremost class action, pension, labour, employment and litigation firms. Its class actions group has been a leader in class actions since 1992 and has prosecuted many of the leading cases in the area.  For example, Koskie Minsky LLP was counsel to the survivors of Huronia Regional Centre, a facility for individuals with developmental disabilities, who recently received court approval of a settlement with the Province of Ontario wherein the Province agreed to pay survivors $35 million and to provide an apology to former residents of Huronia for the harm they sustained while living at this facility.   Koskie Minsky LLP was also counsel in Cloud v. Canada, the first Indian residential schools class action certified in Canada which resulted in a $4 billion pan-Canadian settlement. The settlement is proceeding and over 90,000 class members have made claims.

Sandy Zaitzeff and Christopher Watkins, based in Thunder Bay, bring extensive courtroom and trial experience in the areas of personal injury, criminal and class action litigation. Sandy Zaitzeff is lead counsel in several class actions including against the City of Thunder Bay regarding its alleged failure to properly maintain a water pollution control plant, in national actions involving alleged gender based discrimination in the RCMP and the Alysena Birth Control class action; both cases involve women from across Canada.

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Class action lawsuit news article

News Source:
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Crown ward class action lawsuit intake form Intake form pdf file attachment:

Download form here: JANUARY 22, 2014 - TORONTO Ontario Canada

Links to attachment(s): Pdf attachment
CAS_Abuse_child_abuse_crownwards_class_action_suit_Intake

Ontario Crowns Wards and former Ontario Crown Wards are encouraged to email claybourne@watkinslawforthepeople.com or call 807-345-4455 , email ocwclassaction@kmlaw.ca or call 1-866-778-7985 to provide information about their Wardship to support the case and to be in position to make a claim, if the case is successful.


Sandy Zaitzeff of the law firm Watkins Law estimates 50,000 to 150,000 claimants could join the suit.

I've already hand delivered the good news and forms to 9 people today. I have others making more copies and we're holding a free clinic next week for 2 days to help people fill them out or they can just come pick up a form....we're going to collect them and purolate them back.

RE: CAS LAWSUIT....FOR THOSE ABUSED AND OR NEGLECTED WHILE IN CAS CARE For all current and former people that were in the care of ANY cas in Ontario at anytime in their life. Please sign up for this class action lawsuit. It doesn't cost you anything.

We are holding a FREE clinic to help people fill out the forms. We have enough copies for everyone. WHEN: Wednesday January 29th, 2014 and Saturday February 1st, 2014 from 2p.m. until 8 p.m. both days. LOCATION: 79 king Street West Chatham Ontario WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING: a photo copy of your health card to attached to the form. I have rented the space to make it easy for everyone to come and pick up the forms. We will also have people available to help you fill them out if you need it. Bring any and all information you have about your time spent in foster care. If you don't have any paperwork to look at please come anyway....we'll help you obtain your cas file if it's needed. ****

You can also download the forms right here and do at home if you like...the address of the lawyer is on the form

The class action includes all children who were Crown wards at any time from January 1, 1966, the date that the Province of Ontario voluntarily accepted legal responsibility and guardianship of Crown wards. - See more at: childrens-aid-society/#sthash.lCd7588y.dpuf

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More found here: http://ontariocfa.com/

Court gives green light for Crown Ward Class Action against the Province of Ontario
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THUNDER BAY, ON, May 29, 2015 /CNW/ - The Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled yesterday that abused, neglected and re-victimized Crown wards may proceed with their class action against the Province of Ontario, despite government lawyers arguing that they did not owe a duty of care to the tens of thousands of children in their custody.

On May 28, 2015, the Province's motion to strike the plaintiffs' lawsuit was denied by Justice Pierce of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Further, Justice Pierce granted the plaintiffs' motion for an order that the first part of the test for certification is granted.

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