Class action against N.S. school board after teacher charged with sexual assault and sedating students
A Nova Scotia law firm has filed a notice of intended class action against a Pictou County school board after a teacher was charged with 10 offences, including sexual assault and administering lorazepam to students.
Nova Scotia teacher charged with sexual assault and sedating students; class action launched against school board
A Nova Scotia law firm has served notice of an intended class action against the Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education (CCRCE) following the arrest of a Pictou County teacher charged with 10 criminal offences, including sexual assault and administering a sedative to students without consent, Global News Crime reports.
Matthew Donahoe, 53, of Bible Hill, N.S., faces charges including assault by choking, sexual assault, and administering a noxious thing. He is also named as an intended defendant in the civil action.
RCMP received an initial report on Sept. 10 of an alleged assault at Dr. W.A. MacLeod Consolidated School — a pre-primary to Grade 8 facility in Riverton, N.S. Investigators have since identified additional victims and say they believe more may exist. Court documents indicate the allegations involve four victims. The noxious substance allegedly administered was lorazepam, a prescription anti-anxiety medication.
MacGillivray Injury and Insurance Law announced Friday it is seeking to hear from parents and guardians of any student who attended the school's learning centre between September 2025 and September 2026. The firm also wants to hear from families of students at other schools where Donahoe previously taught.
"The parents of these vulnerable, special needs children are scared and upset," Jamie MacGillivray, the firm's founder and CEO, said in a news release. "We hope we can support them to get the help they need."
The firm's claim will allege that a sedative was administered to a student without a prescription or parental consent, and that students were subjected to chokeholds and excessive force.
The CCRCE did not immediately respond to the notice of intended action, but previously told Global News Crime it was treating the charges with seriousness. "These charges are deeply troubling, and I can assure you that CCRCE takes these matters very seriously," a spokesperson said in an emailed statement Thursday. "The school has notified families that the individual has been placed on leave as the RCMP continues its investigation."
Donahoe appeared in Pictou Provincial Court on Thursday and was released on conditions, including no contact with 10 named individuals and a prohibition on contact with anyone under the age of 18.
MacGillivray Law noted that the CCRCE, as a Crown agent, is entitled to two months' notice before legal proceedings can commence. The firm said it intends to file a statement of claim in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia once that period expires, and will seek certification for a class action. Attempts to reach Donahoe for comment on the potential civil action were unsuccessful.
Source: Global News Crime