A Quebec court has authorized a class action against Nordik Spa Village Chelsea, a story that matters to many in the Ottawa region who know the spa. The case centres on allegations of sexual assault. None of the allegations has been tested in court.
What the court decided
Judge Enrico Forlini of the Quebec Superior Court authorized the class action on October 2. Reports of the decision followed on Thursday, October 8.
The representative plaintiff is a woman identified only by the pseudonym A.B. She estimates that several hundred people are in her situation.
The court has said the class action must be brought in the judicial district of Gatineau.
What is alleged
According to the amended application, the alleged assaults were committed by at least 36 different massage therapists. The allegations span the years 2007 to 2026, nearly two decades.
The law firm Lambert Avocats says 143 people have contacted it about the allegations. That number reflects people who have reached out to the firm. It is not a count of confirmed plaintiffs, and the allegations remain unproven.
The spa's response
Nordik Spa Village Chelsea did not oppose the authorization request. It left the matter to the decision of the Court.
The spa has also said the ruling only determines whether the case can be heard collectively. In its words, the decision is not a ruling on the merits of the case. It said it will present its defences at a later stage.
That distinction matters for how to read this news. Authorization is a procedural step. It means a judge has agreed the case can proceed as a group action. It does not mean any allegation has been proven or rejected.
What is not yet known
The reports do not say when the case will next be heard in Gatineau, or how long the process could take. They also do not say how people who believe they are affected can formally join the class, or what compensation the plaintiffs are seeking. Those details have not been announced in the sources reviewed by ottown.
The plaintiff's identity is protected by the pseudonym, and the reports do not name any of the massage therapists referred to in the application.
Why it matters here
Anyone who believes they are affected can contact Lambert Avocats, the firm that says it has heard from 143 people so far.
Those seeking support after a sexual assault can contact local services or the police. ottown will update this story as the case moves forward.
Sources: Narcity Québec, Le Droit
