Province appeals Lalo compensation ruling

Nova Scotia is appealing a landmark court ruling to compensate a victim of Cesar Lalo, the former probation officer convicted of abusing 29 boys.

Court documents were filed Friday to appeal the decision and the $640,000 judgment.

A 43-year-old man identified as BMG in court documents was a boy when he was raped by Lalo, who was convicted of sexually assaulting another 28boys from 1973 to 1989 while working as a probation officer and social worker.

BMGsued the province, arguing it was responsible for its employee.

In January, Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Frank Edwards found the province was vicariously liable for the abuse by Lalo and awarded BMG $640,000 in damages and for lost income.

The Department of Community Services saidat the time that about two dozen suits had been filed against the province over Lalo, thoughone-third were considered inactive.

Lalo was declared a long-term offender in August 2004 andhanded a nine-year prison sentence.