A law firm representing women who sued an Alberta municipality over claims of sexual assault, harassment and discrimination says over $9.5 million has been paid out to 155 women whose claims were approved in a settlement.
Two female firefighters with the Leduc fire department, south of Edmonton, launched the class-action lawsuit in 2022 claiming they were subject to physical and sexual assault, harassment and bullying while on the job.
In a news release late Monday, the law firm of Burnett, Duckworth & Palmer LLP claims the settlement is “one of the highest per person payouts in Canadian legal history for workplace sexual misconduct.”
The class action sought damages for women who had worked at the City of Leduc between 2002 and 2023, and the Court of King’s Bench approved a settlement to provide compensation to the women in 2023.
In January 2024, Leduc’s mayor apologized to the women who worked at the City of Leduc.
In a statement on its website, the municipality says the settlement has provided the means to move forward with what it calls “critical change initiatives,” which it says include psychological health and safety initiatives, mandatory training and workplace investigation training.
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“We acknowledge the profound impact that this matter has had. We have learned from this experience and are continuing to move forward in a way that honours our commitment to a respectful and safe environment for all. This remains central to everything we do,” the city’s statement says.
It also notes Leduc residents will not shoulder the cost of the settlement, explaining that legal and claims costs are covered by insurance and the payment “will have no effect on future property taxes.”
“When I started this journey, my goal was simple: to bring the truth to light. Because the truth, above all else, is what brings validation. It’s what gives people peace,” former Leduc firefighter and plaintiff Christa Steele said in the law firm’s news release.
“I am grateful that we set a precedent and made history. We left a mark and I am proud of what we accomplished together.”
The law firm says the claims process for the class-action lawsuit has now concluded.
Its statement says the plaintiffs asked the court’s permission in January to disclose the total number of claimants and the amounts paid out, but it says the City of Leduc opposed the move. At the end of March, it says the court dismissed the city’s request and allowed the numbers to be made public.
It also notes that over the past 18 months, the parties have participated in a process that allows the women who were affected to talk about their experiences with the city’s leadership.
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