Cora Laich and her late husband Simon Grant. (Submitted photo/Cora Laich)

By Derek Cornet

Lawsuit

Widow sues child and family services agency for wrongful death

Dec 13, 2019 | 1:21 PM

Cora Laich, who’s husband Simon Grant was murdered in La Ronge in April 2017, is suing the Lac La Ronge Indian Band Child and Family Services Agency Inc. for wrongful death caused by negligence.

A statement of claim filed at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Prince Albert states the cause of Grant’s death is attributable and caused by the negligence of the agency. It states one of Grant’s killers was a ward who had been committed to the care of the defendant. Laich told larongeNOW why she wanted to move forward with the lawsuit.

“The biggest reason is because … months before Simon’s death we had been fighting with ICFS to get the young man assistance, to get him help, to get him counselling and we just got the runaround,” she said. “I really want to honour Simon in doing this and getting it out there that the system isn’t working.”

The statement of claim, which has not been proven in court, notes the agency failed, neglected and refused to provide any care for the ward. Which allowed him to become homeless without adequate provisions for his subsistence including food, clothing and shelter. It also states the ward was in need of therapeutic care that he didn’t receive.

“The failure of the defendant to provide any protection, care and counselling to [the ward] created and perpetuated a danger to the public, which resulted in the death of Mr. Simon Grant,” the statement reads. “The defendant was negligent in that its officers and directors ignored persistent requests from the Plaintiff Cora Laich and the late Mr. Simon Grant for assistance.”

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The statement also alleges the agency was negligent because they ignored a warning from the RCMP telling them the ward had threatened to kill Grant. It adds the plaintiffs took the ward into their home because the agency refused to provide any care and assistance to him.

Laich is seeking damages for wrongful death in an amount exceeding $50,000, special damages and economic loss in an amount to be proven in court, and punitive and exemplary damages.

In a statement of defence, the agency claims the lawsuit is inflammatory with baseless accusations that are wholly without evidential foundation. It calls for the statement of claim to be dismissed, adding it has no reasonable prospect of success and should be dismissed on that basis.

The agency also “vehemently” denies it was warned by the RCMP the ward had threatened to kill or harm Grant, and it had any prior knowledge or information to suggest the ward intended to kill or harm Grant.

By virtue of an agreement with the Ministry of Social Services of the Government of Saskatchewan, as well as Section 61 of The Child and Family Services Act (CFSA), the agency states it has been delegated all powers, responsibilities, protection and duties of the Minister of Social Services that are enumerated in the CFSA.

Three people were found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Grant including Austin Bird and two youth who can’t be named the Youth Criminal Justice Act. One of the youth, however, was sentenced as an adult but he has appealed the decision.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno