Ontario: families of nursing home residents who died from COVID-19 launch $50 million lawsuit against Canada’s second largest operator – aged care 66% of province’s total deaths

Families of COVID-19 victims at the company’s long-term care facilities in Ontario have launched the class action, alleging negligence and breach of contract. The private operator says it has the second-largest network of accommodation, care and services for seniors in North America, with over than 500 locations in Canada and the United States plus holdings in the UK. The lawsuit is being brought by Diamond and Diamond Lawyers on behalf of two plaintiffs Peter Masucci and Tonino Ricci. Both men lost their mothers after they contracted COVID-19 while living in Revera’s Harold and Grace Baker Centre in Toronto. They say the homes lacked proper sanitation protocols and adequate testing, and measures to keep residents safe were not properly communicated to residents and their families. Diamond and Diamond’s Head of Commercial and Civil litigation Darryl Singer says dozens of families have now come forward to join the case. DCM Director – Industry Engagement Judy Martin (and Chair of the Global Ageing Network (GAN), which represents aged care operators from around the world) says her Ontario member is now tracking COVID-19 data in the province with shocking results. This tool shows 34% of Ontario’s nursing homes now have at least one COVID-19 case, with 175 homes affected. At last count, over 2,700 residents and 1,600 staff had tested positive, with 967 deaths recorded – 66% of the total 1,446 COVID-19 deaths recorded in Ontario.