(Ottawa) Four former members of the national water polo team have filed a $5.5 million lawsuit against Water Polo Canada.
Posted at 4:40 p.m.
According to a statement, the plaintiffs sought $1 million in damages for breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, breach of contract and vicarious liability for physical, psychological and emotional abuse, sexual harassment and mental suffering.
They are also seeking four million for past and future economic losses, special damages and $500,000 in punitive damages.
The lawsuit was filed in Ontario Superior Court on April 29. The statement, which was amended on Tuesday, contains allegations that have not been tested in court.
Sophie Baron La Salle, Katrina Monton, Stephanie Valin and a fourth complainant listed as AA, collectively trained with Water Polo Canada’s Women’s National Team program between 2004 and 2016.
During those years, they claimed Water Polo Canada coaches subjected athletes, including the complainants, to a pattern of harmful conduct that included physical, psychological and emotional abuse and sexual harassment, according to the statement.
The lawsuit also said that support staff and management witnessed or knew about the coaches’ abusive conduct but did not intervene and that the abuse continued for the duration of the plaintiffs’ stay at the facility. National team.
Water Polo Canada, which is based in Ottawa, is listed as the sole defendant.
The lawsuit brings allegations against several coaches and staff, including Baher El Sakkary, Daniel Berthelette, Patrick Oaten and Guy Baker, who held various coaching positions at times when the plaintiffs were part of the program.
“Baher, Dan, Pat and Guy together fostered a toxic culture at WPC throughout the Complainants’ many years on the Women’s National Team,” the statement read.
A message left with Water Polo Canada was not immediately returned.
TSN first reported details of the lawsuit on Thursday.