Survivors of sexual abuse by former Saint John police officer Kenneth Estabrooks can claim from a $16.5 million CAD settlement without proving the abuse with records — and without being questioned by lawyers. A claim rests on a sworn declaration, a copy of photo ID and the administrator’s review. In the Estabrooks abuse settlement, payments are calculated with points rather than a fixed schedule, and claims close April 13, 2027.
Status: Settlement approved March 12, 2026 | Claim deadline April 13, 2027 | Paid pro rata by points, 10 to 70 points per claim | No payment date announced
This article discusses child sexual abuse. The official settlement website links to emotional and mental health support resources, and its claim form and notice open with a content warning.
A Settlement That Came After a Liability Ruling
Most class action settlements end a case before any court decides fault. This one did not. Hayes v. The City of Saint John, No. SJC-533-13, was certified as a class proceeding on June 19, 2017, with a common issue asking 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. The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the city’s application for leave to appeal on May 16, 2024. The parties then settled through mediation in 2025, pointing to the cost, risk and delay of an individual-issues process. The Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick approved the settlement on March 12, 2026. Class counsel confirmed that no class member opted out.
Under the agreement the City of Saint John will pay up to $16,500,000 CAD.
Who Can Claim
The class covers everyone who alleges 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 be paid, the administrator must be satisfied of three things:
- the claimant suffered harm as a result of being sexually abused by Estabrooks;
- the abuse happened in the City of Saint John between January 1, 1953 and November 1, 1975; and
- it happened while Estabrooks was a City of Saint John police officer.
People who validly opted out, or who previously settled a claim against the city over the same abuse, may not be eligible. A claim can be made for a class member who has since died, as long as that person was alive on May 16, 2024.
How the Points System Works
The fund first pays the third-party litigation funder’s fees, class counsel’s fees and the representative plaintiff’s honorarium, in amounts approved by the court, plus administration costs. What remains is divided among approved claims according to points.
| Abuse points | 10 to 50, rising with the nature, frequency and severity of the abuse described in the sworn declaration. Only the highest applicable level counts. |
| Psychological harm points | 20 more points with 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. |
| Maximum | 70 points. |
| Estate claims | Half the points that would otherwise apply. |
Each payment equals the claimant’s share of all points awarded across approved claims. That means no dollar value per point can be known until the claim period closes and every claim is scored. The portion of the fund reserved for claims earns 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 a Claim Requires
A person claiming for themselves does not have to provide documents, records or other evidence of the abuse. Every claim form does need:
- a clear copy of one valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s licence, passport or provincial ID card, with a name and date of birth that match the form; and
- a sworn declaration, signed before a commissioner of oaths, lawyer or other authorized official, either in person or over a video call. Class counsel and the administrator help arrange this.
The 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 description in the claimant’s own words. It also asks whether to be paid by cheque or direct deposit.
Documents are needed in only two situations. The 20 psychological-harm points require medical records, a diagnosis or a psychological assessment, which can be sent with the form or later. A claim for a deceased class member requires proof of authority over the estate — Letters of Administration, Letters Probate, or a will naming the filer as executor — plus documentary, testimonial or medical evidence of the abuse. A sworn declaration alone is not enough for an estate claim.
Privacy and Support
All information, including the claimant’s identity, is kept confidential. Reports to the court and to the city identify claimants only by claim number. The approved process is paper-based and non-adversarial; claimants are not examined by lawyers, although the administrator may get in touch to ask for more information or clarification.
No lawyer is required to file. Class counsel, Koskie Minsky LLP and McKiggan Hebert, and the administrator help class members with the form at no charge, both virtually and in person.
Filing and Deadlines
The claim form is posted in English and French on the official Saint John Estabrooks Abuse Class Action website, run by the court-appointed administrator, KPMG. There is no online claim portal. A completed form can be submitted by email, by mail, or in person at the administrator’s Saint John office, using the details listed on that website.
| April 13, 2027 | Claim form and supporting documents due. A claim sent by Canada Post counts as submitted on its postmark date. The documents give no time of day or timezone. |
| July 13, 2027 | End of the three-month window in which the administrator may accept a late claim with a reasonable written explanation. Nothing is considered after this date. |
After a Claim Is Filed
The administrator confirms receipt and flags any deficiencies within 90 days, then gives the claimant at least 90 days to fix them. It then issues a determination notice saying 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 of that notice; if no appeal is filed in time, the determination becomes final.
Payments go out only after every claim, including appeals, has been 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. The Saint John Estabrooks settlement page on OpenClassActions.com will reflect any update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to prove the abuse happened?
Not if you are claiming for yourself. 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 on behalf of a deceased class member.
How much will I receive?
It cannot be known yet. Each approved claim receives 10 to 70 points, and the money left after fees and costs is divided by each claimant’s share of all points awarded, so the value of a point depends on how many claims are approved.
Will lawyers question me?
No. The approved process is paper-based and non-adversarial and states that claimants do not need to be examined by lawyers. The administrator may contact you for more information or clarification.
Can I file for a family member who has died?
Yes, if the class member was alive on May 16, 2024. You must attach Letters of Administration, Letters Probate or a will naming you executor, plus documentary, testimonial or medical evidence of the abuse. Estate claims receive half the points that would otherwise apply.
What if I miss April 13, 2027?
The administrator may accept a claim received up to July 13, 2027 if you give a reasonable written explanation for the delay. After July 13, 2027, no claim can be considered.
Is there an online claim form?
No. The claim form is downloaded from the official website and submitted by email, by mail, or in person at the administrator’s Saint John office.
Sources
- Official administrator website, long-form notice, claims process, claim form, settlement agreement and approval order — Saint John Estabrooks Abuse Class Action (KPMG).
- Hayes v. The City of Saint John, No. SJC-533-13, Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick.
- OpenClassActions.com — Saint John Kenneth Estabrooks Abuse Class Action Settlement.
Source and credit: the settlement terms, deadlines and benefit details described above are drawn from our sister site’s reporting — OpenClassActions.com: Saint John Kenneth Estabrooks Abuse Class Action Settlement — which tracks this case against the court-approved notice and the official settlement website and is updated as the court rules.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. OpenClassActions.org is a consumer news site, not a law firm and not the settlement administrator, and is not affiliated with any party to the case described. The allegations are allegations; unless a court has ruled, the defendants deny wrongdoing and no court has decided the merits. Deadlines, benefit amounts and payment timing can change as the court and the administrator act, so confirm current status on the official settlement website. You never need to pay anyone to file a claim or to receive a settlement payment.