{
  "id": 1086542,
  "title": "Judge approves $31.5M settlement in sexual assault case against Quebec archdiocese",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/judge-approves-31-5m-settlement-in-sexual-assault-case-against-quebec",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-15T17:13:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/2026/08/15/judge-approves-31-5m-settlement-in-sexual-assault-case-against-quebec-archdiocese"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "A Quebec law firm has announced that a Superior Court judge has approved a $31.5-million settlement for sexual assault claimants in a class-action lawsuit against the Quebec City archdiocese. The agreement, which ends a years-long legal battle, is set to begin with a first annual payment of $205.00 plus GST for one year, with automatic renewal at $233.00 plus GST every 52 weeks. The settlement is historic and will cover claimants who allege they were sexually abused by priests and employees of the Catholic organization since 1940. Plaintiffs Gaétan Bégin and Pierre Bolduc, who led the class action, were sexually assaulted in the 1950s and 1960s. The Dufresne Wee law firm says victims have 90 days to submit a claim and the payout will be determined by two retired judges. The archdiocese will issue a letter of apology to each accepted victim.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "Judge approves $31.5M settlement in sexual assault case against Quebec archdiocese",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/judge-approves-31-5m-settlement-in-sexual-assault-case-against-quebec-1089297",
        "published": "2026-08-15T17:13:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}