Trial postponed as Yukon government and Jack Hulland families enter settlement discussions
The trial of a class-action lawsuit brought by families of Jack Hulland Elementary School in Whitehorse has been postponed for potential settlement discussions.
The class-action represents former students who say they were subject to holds, restraints, or placed in seclusion at the school between January 2007 and June 2022.
The trial was scheduled to start Monday and run for three weeks.
James Tucker, a lawyer representing the families, told CBC Monday morning that the groups are instead meeting for a potential settlement discussion.
Settlement negotiations are confidential, Tucker said.
In an emailed statement, the Yukon's Department of Justice said it's "committed to achieving a fair and respectful settlement."
The statement said that procedures inside schools have changed since 2022.
"The government of Yukon acknowledges that some students at Jack Hulland Elementary School were treated in ways that were wrong and harmful," the statement said.
"We recognize the pain this caused not only to those students, but to their families, the school community, and the broader Yukon public."
The trial has been tentatively rescheduled for Aug. 13. If a settlement agreement is not reached, the trial is expected to happen over 15 days.
'Hundreds' of potential plaintiffs involved
The lawsuit alleges that students were repeatedly put in holds and seclusion over 15 years. The plaintiffs allege it caused severe psychological and emotional damage, to the point of developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Tucker said last week that "hundreds" of former students have stepped forward as potential plaintiffs and he expects to hear from more.
"Our allegation is that these practices were used routinely and repeatedly at this school over a 15-year period," Tucker said in an interview. "So, I'm not even sure that we have identified all the people who were truly impacted."
Two former students and their guardians brought the lawsuit as the representative plaintiffs.
"It's been a very tough process for them," Tucker said. "They want to see these practices brought to light, they want people to know what occurred, and while they know the past can't be altered — their hope is that these practices will not continue into the future."
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