Two lawsuits accusing the former director of an Ontario boys' camp of sexually assaulting a former camper and a former staff member have ended in an out-of-court settlement.
The lawsuits against Kilcoo Camp and longtime director David Latimer were filed last year on behalf of plaintiffs identified as J. Doe #1 and J. Doe #2. The lawsuits accuse Latimer of grooming, manipulating and sexually assaulting a former student camper in the early 1990s and a young adult staff member beginning in the 2000s.
The claims were “settled by mutual consent of the parties,” plaintiffs' attorney Gillian Hanativ said in an email Friday.
“My clients are happy that things have been resolved. At this time, they have no further comment,” she said.
“The camp and everyone involved have learned from this, and are grateful for the candid and positive discussions that led to this outcome,” Kilco said in a statement posted Thursday on the camp's website.
Latimer's attorney, Scott Hutchison, said in an email Friday that he and his client had no comment on the settlement beyond what was included in the statement. In a statement of defense filed last year, Latimer denied all allegations of sexual misconduct included in the lawsuit.
In a statement from the camp, Latimer has retired as director and will not be involved with the camp in the future.
The camp “has created a sexual harassment and abuse policy and an anti-bullying policy that will evolve to respond to camp management best practices,” the statement said.
No details of the deal have been made public.
None of the allegations contained in the case have been tested in court.
Kilcoo Camp, Minden, Ont. Located nearby, operates a private summer camp primarily for boys between the ages of 8 and 16. It also offers year-round programs for students.
Latimer became Camp Kilcoe's director in 1985, according to the camp website, before stepping down last year.
