class-action lawsuit

One of the darker sagas in the history of Saint John may be approaching its end.

The City of Saint John has proposed a $16.5-million settlement in the class action lawsuit relating to sexual abuse by Kenneth Estabrooks while he was a Saint John police officer.

The Court still has to approve the proposal, with a hearing scheduled for March 12 at 9 a.m. at the Saint John Courthouse. If the proposal is approved, the process for class members to claim compensation will also be determined at that time.

The City of Saint John was found vicariously liable for harm suffered by individuals who were sexually abused by Estabrooks while he was a police officer for the city.

The class includes all persons who allege they suffered injury, loss or damage as a result of Estabrooks’ actions between Jan. 1, 1953, and Nov. 1, 1975.

Any class member who disagrees with the proposed settlement and doesn’t want it approved has until Feb. 15 to submit an objection form.

The suit was filed in 2013 by Robert Hayes, who has served as the class representative.

The suit also alleged that Estabrooks was transferred to the city’s works department when incidents came to light and that he continued to sexually abuse people there until his retirement in 1983.

Private investigators hired by the City of Saint John found 263 people, mostly boys, may have been abused.

In 1999, Estabrooks was convicted on four counts of indecent assault.

He died in prison in 2005 while serving a six-year sentence.