Two of three men alleging they were the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of a former Prince George school teacher have withdrawn their lawsuits against the man and School District 57.
Consent orders dismissing their cases were filed June 25 by Brett McLachlan and Ed Squire.
Their lawyer, Aaron Lealess, declined to divulge the terms under which they made their decisions but added most cases are settled out of court.
In March 2017, McLachlan, Squire and Michael Bruneau filed lawsuits against Wendall Diakiw and the school district, each seeking $3.2 million in damages for alleged physical, emotional and mental pain and financial loss suffered as a result of Diakiw’s actions.
They also claimed, in part, that the school district failed to act on concerns allegedly raised about Diakiw’s behaviour and his unusual interest in young boys.
The school district subsequently filed responses to the claims from McLachlan and Squire denying responsibility but, as of Tuesday, not against Bruneau.
Lealess said examinations for discovery in regards to Bruneau have been conducted and the matter in on course to go to trial in the next 18 months to two years.
In the interim, there remains a good chance Bruneau’s matter could also be settled out of court, Lealess said, “just based on the statistics that the vast majority of civil lawsuits are settled outside of court.”
Lealess said he continues to encourage anyone who may have information or was a witness to the alleged incidents to contact him.
“There is still the one case ongoing and part of the claim is the school board knew and if there were any red flags or any problems that should have been addressed,” he said.
Based at Beckett Personal Injury Lawyers in London, Ont., Lealess specializes in sexual abuse cases.
Diakiw taught at Austin Road Elementary School in the 1970s and 1980s.
He also taught piano outside school hours and frequently volunteered to provide students rides from their homes to their lessons, according to the men’s claims.
In 1988, he was sentenced to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to counts of sexual assault, indecent assault and gross indecency.
The three were among six of Diakiw’s victims, according to the notice of claims.
Accomplished wildlife artist Jim Young committed suicide at age 26. He confirmed shortly before his death that he was one of Diakiw’s victims, according to his sister.
