Home / Crime and Justice / Hundreds died: Class action lawsuit targets LTC home negligence
Hundreds died: Class action lawsuit targets LTC home negligence
5 Nov
Summary
- Lawsuit certified alleging gross negligence at Downsview Long-Term Care.
- Nearly 2,000 residents infected, 244 died during COVID-19 outbreaks.
- Judge found factual basis to support negligence claims in ruling.
A class action lawsuit has been certified against Downsview Long-Term Care Centre and its owner, Gem Healthcare Group, alleging gross negligence during the COVID-19 pandemic. This legal action claims the facility's poor response resulted in extensive outbreaks.
Between late January 2020 and early May 2023, the lawsuit contends that over 1,900 residents contracted COVID-19, leading to at least 244 deaths. The plaintiffs include affected residents, their families, and estates.
Allegations point to systemic failures such as overcrowding, inadequate infection control, and understaffing. The lawsuit asserts that these deficiencies, combined with a slow and insufficient implementation of preventative measures, made the home vulnerable to the virus.
Justice Edward Morgan certified the class action, noting a factual basis for the claims and that a class proceeding is the most appropriate method for a just and efficient determination. The defendants have stated their intention to vigorously defend against the allegations.
This report was first published on November 5, 2026.
