Province loses appeal in Lalo ruling

Nova Scotia's highest court has upheld a ruling that orders the province to pay more than $600,000 to a victim of child molester Cesar Lalo.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the province's appealTuesday.

ANova Scotia Supreme Court decision earlier this year awarded$640,000 in damages and lost income to a victim of Lalo's identified only as BMG.

"We will honour the decision of the appeal court," said Justice Minister Cecil Clarke.

Clarketold reportershe cannot say whether the province will fightanother 20 cases in court or try to settle with those who are suing the government.

In January, Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Frank Edwards found the province was vicariously liable for the abuse by Lalo, who was a provincial employee at the time.

Lalo was convicted of sexually assaulting29 boys from 1973 to 1989 while working as a probation officer and social worker.

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