WARNING: This story contains details of abuse.

A Manitoba man who alleged he was sexually and physically assaulted by a teacher at an Anglican boarding school four decades ago has settled his case against the teacher and the local diocese, his lawyer says.

Israel Ludwig would not reveal how much money was agreed on, but said he was satisfied with the outcome for his client.

“I’m pleased that the defendants recognize that my client should be compensated for what happened to him at the school,” Ludwig said over the phone on Thursday.

“My client was happy to receive the money and instructed me to discontinue the claim.”

Ludwig said the money was paid on the condition that all the defendants be released from the claim. A notice of discontinuance in the case was filed in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench on Dec. 6, 2022, court documents show. 

The man — whom is not naming because the allegations involve sexual assault — initially filed a statement of claim in January 2020 in what was then the Court of Queen’s Bench.

The statement of claim said the man, who at the time of the filing worked as a labourer in northern Manitoba, was a student at the boarding school for grades 9 and 10.

He said he was sexually assaulted by Mealey in the early 1980s, while he was staying in a student dormitory. Mealey came into the dormitory at night, performed oral sex on him and fondled him while he was sleeping, the man alleged in the 2020 court document.

The statement of claim also alleged Mealey physically assaulted the plaintiff by hitting him on the buttocks with a stick.

In a later statement of defence, Mealey denied the allegations.

He did not respond to requests for comment following the settlement.

The statement of claim also listed the Diocese of Rupert’s Land — the Anglican diocese which includes much of southern Manitoba — as a defendant. Both the diocese and its lawyer, Bernice Bowley, declined to comment.

Teacher previously convicted

More than two decades ago, Mealey was criminally convicted of sexually assaulting other students at the Selkirk school, the statement of claim noted.

The man also said in the 2020 court document that the abuse he suffered led to his difficulty with relationships, including a general lack of trust and distrust of men in close quarters.

He said he also suffered from issues with anger, hyper-vigilance and self-blame, and from anxiety attacks, high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction and insomnia.

The statement of claim said the man was seeking general and punitive damages, and damages to cover legal, medical and pharmaceutical costs, and to cover the loss of wages and future income.

While the suit is now settled, none of the allegations in the statement of claim were proven in court.