Update: August 14, 2025

Our firm is pleased to announce that a proposed Settlement has been reached in two class action lawsuits against Ontario and Canada (the “Defendants”): Lapple v Ontario and Dadzie v Ontario and Canada. Champ and Associates together with Koskie Minsky LLP, McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP and Henein Hutchison LLP have been pursuing these class actions for several years on behalf of people who were incarcerated in Ontario provincial correctional centres, jails and detention centres between May 30, 2009, and November 27, 2017. This includes people who were detained in the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre.

The lawsuits allege that the Defendants improperly subjected inmates and immigration detainees to chronic staffing-related lockdowns, constituting systemic negligence and breaches of sections 7 and 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Defendants deny those allegations, and the Court did not decide who was right. The Parties have instead decided to settle the lawsuits.

Who Are Class Members in the Proposed Settlement?

The Proposed Settlement

If approved, the proposed Settlement will provide compensation to Class Members who experienced 16 or more staffing-related lockdowns, calculated in accordance with the Settlement Agreement:

• between August 15, 2014 and November 27, 2017, for current or former inmates; or,
• between August 11, 2014 and November 27, 2017, for current or former immigration detainees.

Depending on the number of staffing-related lockdowns and the nature of harm suffered, eligible Claimants could receive between $2,000 and $68,000 (subject to a pro rata reduction, if necessary).

Settlement Approval Hearing

The Court will hold a Settlement Approval Hearing on October 22, 2025 at 10:00 am EST to consider whether or not to approve the proposed Settlement, Class Counsel Fees and/or Honoraria. The Settlement Approval Hearing will take place virtually over Zoom and in person at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, 330 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1R7. When available, a Zoom link for virtual attendance at the Settlement Approval Hearing will be posted on ONTJailStaffLockdowns.ca.

Check the Administrator’s website (ONTJailStaffLockdowns.ca) or Class Counsel’s websites regularly after the Settlement Approval Hearing to see if the Settlement has been approved. You can also provide your email address to the Administrator or Class Counsel to be notified by email if the Settlement is approved.

Note: At this time, there is no money available for Class Members. The claims process has not yet begun. If the proposed Settlement is approved, Class Members may make a Claim for compensation under the Settlement.

Your Legal Rights and Options

• If you support the proposed Settlement, Class Counsel Fees, and Honoraria, you do not have to do anything at this time. If the Court approves the Settlement and you are eligible, you will be able to submit a Claim for compensation. Check the Administrator’s website (ONTJailStaffLockdowns.ca) regularly after the Settlement Approval Hearing to see if the Settlement has been approved. You can also provide your email address to the Administrator or Class Counsel to be notified by email if the Settlement is approved.

• If you do not like the proposed Settlement and want to tell the Court why you do not like it, you can object to the proposed Settlement, Class Counsel Fees, and/or Honoraria. To object, you must submit a signed and completed Objection Form to the Administrator on or before October 14, 2025. A copy of the Objection Form can be obtained below.

Your legal rights and options – and the deadlines to exercise them – are explained in more detail in the long-form Notice of Settlement Approval Hearing and on the settlement website (ONTJailStaffLockdowns.ca). Please read the long-form Notice of Settlement Approval Hearing carefully.

To be clear, if you are a Class Member and you wish to make a Claim, you are not required to do anything until after the Settlement is approved.

Documents Related to this Update

• View a copy of the short-form Notice of Settlement Approval Hearing here (English/French).
• View a copy of the long-form Notice of Settlement Approval Hearing here (English/French).
• View a copy of the Settlement Agreement here.
• View a copy of the Objection Form here (English/French).

How Do I Get More Information?

For more information, please reach out to us by email at lockdownclass@champlaw.ca or by phone at 1-833-333-6608.

You can also reach out to the Administrator at the following contact information:

Ontario Corrections Staffing-Related Lockdowns Class Actions Administrator

c/o Deloitte LLP
PO Box 7545 STN ADELAIDE
Toronto, ON M5C 0C4
Toll-Free Telephone: 1-844-742-0825
Email: info@ONTJailStaffLockdowns.ca
Website: ONTJailStaffLockdowns.ca

Other Documents

Here is a link to the reasons certifying the action.

Here is a link to a webpage with more information including the pleadings and other orders.

Join Our Class Member Database

If you are a Class Member and you would like to be added to our Class Member database to receive important updates, please provide us with your up-to-date contact information by email at lockdownclass@champlaw.ca or by phone at 1-833-333-6608. If corresponding by email, please include your name, your telephone number, and a brief message.