Ottawa appeals ruling extending military sexual misconduct class action deadline – National | Globalnews.ca

Ottawa has appealed a recent Federal Court ruling that would further extend the deadline for submitting claims in a military sexual misconduct class action settlement.

Earlier this month, a Federal Court judge ruled that late claims can be accepted in the Canadian Armed Forces-Department of National Defence Sexual Misconduct Class Action Settlement until Feb. 5.

However, that ruling “compromises the integrity” of the final settlement agreement (FSA) negotiated by the parties and approved by the court, Ottawa said Tuesday in a statement.

“In its ruling, the Federal Court altered the terms of the FSA. This is concerning because it raises significant legal issues that could impact other class action settlements in the future, and it is critical that all parties have confidence in the integrity of agreements that are reached in good faith,” the government said in a statement on the Department of National Defence website.

“The appeal does not affect the ongoing processing of claims duly filed by the January 2022 deadline. It is expected that the vast majority of those applications will be completed by the end of January 2023.”

Global News reached out to the law firms representing claimants in the extension request, but did not receive a response by publication time.

According to the class action settlement website, roughly 20,000 people have come forward so far.

In 2019, the government reached a $900-million settlement over a class-action lawsuit from survivors and victims of military sexual misconduct. More than 18,000 survivors and victims had come forward to submit claims as of November 2021, shortly before the deadline.

More to come.

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