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Personal injury lawyer Greg Monforton
today announced that his firm is representing the family of Lori Dupont in a lawsuit
against a number of defendants, including Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital, its senior administrators,
individual members of its Medical Advisory Committee, the estate of Dr. Marc Daniel and
Dr. Brian Burke (Dr. Daniel’s treating psychiatrist)
Lori Dupont is the 36 year old nurse who was killed on November 12, 2005, by her ex-partner
Dr. Marc Daniel, a Hotel-Dieu anesthesiologist with a history of mental illness. He
subsequently took his own life.
Monforton said: “Lori Dupont did not have to die. Under no circumstances
should any of the defendants have allowed Dr. Daniel to have contact with Lori. Lori
spent the last months of her life in fear for her own safety. In the end her worst
fears were realized and an 8 year old girl is left without a mom. Lori’s
family is now looking for answers as to why such a tragedy occurred”.
Monforton was also critical of the internal investigation being undertaken by Hotel-Dieu
Grace Hospital. Monforton said: “What is needed here is a Coroner’s
Inquest. The hospital has an inherent conflict of interest and cannot credibly
investigate its own actions, particularly when interested parties are not given full
disclosure of evidence and cannot challenge the credibility of evidence through cross-examination”.
The Dupont family seeks punitive damages and damages under the Family Law Act for
an amount to compensate them for the loss of care, guidance and companionship reasonably
expected to be received from Lori had she not been killed. The family also seeks
damages for the loss of income Lori would have contributed to the family, as well as
for depression and nervous shock they have suffered as a result of Lori’s horrific
death. Total damages claimed will exceed $1,000,000.00 plus punitive damages
in the amount of $1,000,000.00 will be sought against each defendant.
Monforton said: “The Dupont family does not want Lori’s death to be in vain…they
hope that this lawsuit will bring attention to the need for accountability when a woman
becomes the victim of harassment and violence. They also want a Coroner’s
Inquest to be called to clear up any misunderstanding about the circumstances of Lori’s
death. Additionally, the family hopes that this lawsuit will bring to the forefront
how tragedies such as this can occur and how they can be avoided in the future”.
Monforton,
President-Elect of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and a specialist in civil litigation,
said that he expects to file the lawsuit within the next few days and that it may take
as long as 2 to 3 years to get the matter to trial.
Greg Monforton is available for commentary
and can be reached at 519-258-6490 or 800-663-1145.
Contact: Greg
Monforton
http://www.gregmonforton.com
Greg Monforton and Partners, Injury Lawyers
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