After being wrongfully convicted of a double murder and later acquitted after 41 years, Claude Paquin, a Quebec resident, has reached a substantial settlement with Montreal and the provincial government. The agreement, announced jointly by the three parties, aims to help Paquin move forward from the challenging period in his life without the need for a prolonged trial.
Initially found guilty in 1983 for the murders of Ronald Bourgouin and Sylvie Revah in 1978, Paquin served 18 years in prison before being granted full parole in 2001. New information in the case prompted a retrial in 2024, resulting in his acquittal on November 6 of the same year at the age of 83.
The case against Paquin heavily relied on the testimony of Bernard Provençal, a prominent police informant. However, Projet Innocence Québec uncovered evidence over the years questioning the informant’s credibility, crucial in Paquin’s acquittal.
Represented by lawyers from Woods LLP, Paquin filed a multimillion-dollar civil lawsuit in May 2025 against the City of Montreal and the Attorney General of Quebec, alleging misconduct by police and prosecution dating back to 1983. Paquin’s legal team argued that the case represented more than a miscarriage of justice but a life unjustly taken away.
The lawsuit highlighted Paquin’s prolonged wrongful imprisonment, seeking damages of over $89 million, although the settlement amount remains undisclosed due to a confidentiality clause. As the lawsuit was resolved outside of court, the claims were not litigated, and all involved parties have chosen to refrain from further comments on the matter.