Published
October 3, 2026
People who were sexually abused by Kenneth Estabrooks in the City of Saint John between January 1, 1953 and November 1, 1975, while he was a city police officer, may qualify to claim compensation from the $16.5 million CAD City of Saint John class action settlement. Claims close April 13, 2027.
Current Status
Claims are open. Claim forms must be submitted by April 13, 2027; the official documents give a date only, with no time of day or timezone. The New Brunswick Court of King's Bench approved the settlement on March 12, 2026. Payments will be issued only after every claim, including any eligibility appeal, has been finally determined, and no payment date had been announced as of October 3, 2026.Free settlement alerts
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Status
Claims Open
Claim Deadline
April 13, 2027
Estimated Payout
Pro rata by points
10 to 70 points per claim · $16.5M CAD fund before fees and costs
Proof Required
Yes
Government photo ID · sworn declaration · no abuse records needed
What Changed Recently?
The claim period opened after the court approved the settlement on March 12, 2026. Under the agreement, the City of Saint John will pay up to $16,500,000 CAD to resolve Hayes v. The City of Saint John, a class action brought on behalf of people sexually abused by Kenneth Estabrooks while he was employed as a city police officer.Unlike most settlements, this one follows a ruling on liability. The case was certified as a class proceeding on June 19, 2017, with a common issue on whether the city was vicariously liable for harm Estabrooks caused as a police officer between 1953 and 1975. On September 14, 2023, the Court of Appeal of New Brunswick decided that issue in favour of the class, and the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the city's application for leave to appeal on May 16, 2024. The parties then reached the settlement through mediation in 2025, citing the cost, risk and delay of an individual-issues process. Class counsel confirmed that no class member opted out of the case.
Who Qualifies?
The class covers all people who allege they suffered injury, loss or damage from being sexually abused by Kenneth Estabrooks in the City of Saint John between January 1, 1953 and November 1, 1975. To receive compensation, the administrator must be satisfied that the claimant:- suffered harm as a result of being sexually abused by Estabrooks;
- was abused in the City of Saint John between January 1, 1953 and November 1, 1975; and
- was abused while Estabrooks was a City of Saint John police officer.
How Much Compensation Is Available?
Payments are shared pro rata from what remains of the fund after other costs. The $16.5 million CAD first pays the third-party litigation funder's fees, class counsel's fees, and the representative plaintiff's honorarium, in the amounts approved by the court, along with administration costs. The remainder is divided among approved claims.The administrator assigns points to each approved claim. Points for the abuse itself range from 10 to 50, increasing with the nature, frequency and severity of the abuse described in the sworn declaration; only the highest applicable level counts. A claimant can receive 20 additional points by providing a diagnosis or documentation of an eligible psychological harm that arose after the abuse, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or a substance use disorder. The highest possible total is 70 points. Estate claims receive half the points that would otherwise apply.
Each claimant's payment equals their share of the total points awarded across all approved claims, so no dollar amount per point can be known until the claim period closes. The part of the fund reserved for claims accrues interest at 2% a year from the claims deadline. Uncashed or undeliverable payments go to a non-profit organization chosen by the plaintiff, not back to the city.
What Proof Is Required?
Proof is required, though not proof of the abuse itself for a person claiming on their own behalf. Every claim form must include a clear copy of one valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's licence, passport or provincial ID card, showing a name and date of birth that match the form.The claim form's declaration is sworn, so it must be signed before a commissioner of oaths, lawyer or other authorized official, in person or over a video call. Class counsel and the administrator offer help with commissioning oaths.
Documents are required in two situations. A claim for the psychological-harm points needs medical records, a diagnosis or a psychological assessment, which can be sent with the form or later. A claim for a deceased class member needs proof of authority over the estate (Letters of Administration, Letters Probate, or a will naming the filer as executor) and documentary, testimonial or medical evidence of the abuse.
What Is the Deadline?
The claim form and any supporting documents must be submitted by April 13, 2027. A claim sent through Canada Post is treated as submitted on the date of the postmark. The administrator has limited discretion to accept a claim received up to three months late, until July 13, 2027, when the class member gives a reasonable written explanation; after that date no claim can be considered.How Are Claims Filed?
The claim form is posted on the official Saint John Estabrooks Abuse Class Action website, run by court-appointed administrator KPMG, in English and French. A completed form can be submitted by email, by mail, or in person at the administrator's Saint John office; the website lists each option. There is no online claim portal.A lawyer is not required. Class counsel, Koskie Minsky LLP and McKiggan Hebert, and the administrator assist class members with the form at no charge, both virtually and in person. The official website also links to emotional and mental health support resources, and the claim form and notice open with a content warning.
The claim form asks for the dates or date range of the abuse, the claimant's age and address at the time, whether the claimant knew Estabrooks was a police officer, the form of abuse, and a written description in the claimant's own words. It also asks the claimant to choose payment by cheque or direct deposit. All information, including the claimant's identity, is kept confidential, and reports to the court and the city identify claimants only by a claim number.
What Happens Next?
The administrator confirms receipt of each claim and flags any deficiencies within 90 days, and gives claimants at least 90 days to fix them. Once deficiencies are resolved, it issues a determination notice stating whether the claimant is eligible and how many points the claim received. A claimant found ineligible can appeal to the Court of King's Bench within 30 days.Payments are issued only after all claims, including appeals, are finally determined, and the city pays the remainder of the fund when the claims process concludes. No payment date had been announced as of October 3, 2026.
Sources and Verification
- Saint John Estabrooks Abuse Class Action — official administrator website (KPMG)
- Notice of settlement approval (long form)
- Approved claims process and points system
- Claim form
- Settlement agreement
- Settlement approval order
Questions
Does a claimant have to prove the abuse happened?
A person claiming for themselves does not have to provide documents, records or other evidence of the abuse. The claim rests on a sworn declaration, a copy of government-issued photo ID, and the administrator's review. Supporting documents are needed only for the optional psychological-harm points and for claims made on behalf of a deceased class member.
Is a claimant examined or cross-examined by lawyers?
No. The approved claims process is paper-based and non-adversarial, and it states that claimants do not need to be examined by lawyers. The administrator may contact a claimant for more information or clarification.
What happens to a claim submitted after April 13, 2027?
The administrator has limited discretion to accept a claim received within three months after the deadline, until July 13, 2027, where the class member gives a reasonable written explanation for the delay. After July 13, 2027, the notice says it is too late for a claim to be considered.
Can a family member claim for someone who has died?
An estate representative can file for a class member who was alive on May 16, 2024. The representative must attach Letters of Administration, Letters Probate, or a will naming them as executor, plus documentary, testimonial or medical evidence of the abuse; a sworn declaration alone is not enough. Estate claims receive half the points that would otherwise apply.
Can an eligibility decision be challenged?
A claimant found ineligible can appeal that finding to the New Brunswick Court of King's Bench within 30 days of the date of the administrator's determination notice. If no appeal is filed in time, the determination becomes final.
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Settlement Amount
Up to $16,500,000 CAD
Case Title
Hayes v. The City of Saint John
Case Number
SJC-533-13
Court
Court of King's Bench of New Brunswick
Final Approval Hearing
Settlement approved March 12, 2026
Administrator
KPMG Inc.
Official Website
Saint John Class Action (KPMG)
