Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Jun 04/01) - Fifteen men have joined the 49 others named in a civil suit against the territorial governments for abuse they say they suffered at the hands of convicted sex offender Edward Horne.
Horne, employed as a teacher by the Government of the Northwest Territories from 1971-1985, is one year into a five-year jail term after pleading guilty to 20 counts of sexual assault during his 14 year tenure. The abuse occurred while Horne taught in Apex, Cape Dorset and Sanikiluaq. Victims were between the ages of 7-16.
Most of the men who have joined the lawsuit are from Kimmirut. Their names are to be submitted to Justice John Vertes via a teleconference court appearance this week.
Geoffrey Budden, a Newfoundland lawyer specializing in sexual abuse compensation cases, represents the 64 plaintiffs and believes there may be more.
"What the total number of victims is, Lord only knows," said Budden.
The civil suit seeks damages from the Northwest Territories and Nunavut governments for not protecting the complainants from abuse. Determining financial and emotional losses is the next step.
"We're exploring ways to resolve the claim without litigation. That's as much as I'm comfortable saying right now," Budden said.
